Epidemiological characteristics of cases of death from tuberculosis and vulnerable territories

Objetivo: caracterizar as diferenças do perfil clínico e epidemiológico dos casos de óbitos que tiveram a tuberculose como causa básica e causa associada, e analisar a distribuição espacial dos casos de óbito por tuberculose nos territórios de Ribeirão Preto, SP.Método: trata-se de estudo ecológico em que a população foi composta por 114 casos de óbito por tuberculose. Realizaram-se análise bivariada e da densidade de pontos definidas como estimativa de Kernel.Resultados: dos casos de óbito por tuberculose, 50 foram causa básica e 64 associada. Idade (p=0,008) e setor responsável pelo atestado do óbito (p=0,003) foram as variáveis que apresentaram associação estatisticamente significante com a causa do óbito. A distribuição espacial, em ambos os eventos, não ocorreu de forma aleatória, formando clusters em regiões do município.Conclusão: a diferença no perfil dos casos de óbito por tuberculose, como causa básica e como causa associada, esteve pautada na idade e no setor responsável pelo preenchimento da Declaração de Óbito. A não aleatoriedade da distribuição espacial dos casos sugere áreas vulneráveis à ocorrência desses eventos. Conhecer essas áreas pode contribuir para a escolha de estratégias de controle da doença.Objetivo: caracterizar las diferencias del perfil clínico y epidemiológico de los casos de muertes que tuvieron la tuberculosis como causa básica y causa asociada, y analizar la distribución espacial de los casos de muerte por tuberculosis en los territorios de Ribeirao Preto, SP.Método: se trata de estudio ecológico en que la población fue compuesta por 114 casos de muerte por tuberculosis. Se realizaron análisis bivariados y de densidad de puntos definidas como estimativa de Kernel.Resultados: entre los casos de muerte por tuberculosis, 50 tuvieron causa básica y 64 asociada. La edad (p=0,008) y el sector responsable por el certificado de defunción (p=0,003) fueron las variables que presentaron asociación estadísticamente significativa con la causa de la muerte. La distribución espacial, en los dos eventos, no ocurrió de forma aleatoria, formando clusters en regiones del municipio.Conclusión: la diferencia en el perfil de los casos de muerte por tuberculosis, como causa básica y como causa asociada, estuvo vinculada con la edad y el sector responsable por el llenado del Certificado de Defunción. La no aleatoriedad de la distribución espacial de los casos sugiere áreas vulnerables a la ocurrencia de esos eventos. Conocer esas áreas puede contribuir para poder elegir estrategias de control de la enfermedad.Objective: to characterize the differences in the clinical and epidemiological profile of cases of death that had tuberculosis as an immediate or associated cause, and to analyze the spatial distribution of the cases of death from tuberculosis within the territories of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.Method: an ecological study, in which the population consisted of 114 cases of death from tuberculosis. Bivariate analysis was carried out, as well as point density analysis, defined with the Kernel estimate.Results: of the cases of death from tuberculosis, 50 were the immediate cause and 64 an associated cause. Age (p=.008) and sector responsible for the death certificate (p=.003) were the variables that presented statistically significant associations with the cause of death. The spatial distribution, in both events, did not occur randomly, forming clusters in areas of the municipality.Conclusion: the difference in the profiles of the cases of death from tuberculosis, as a basic cause and as an associated cause, was governed by the age and the sector responsible for the completion of the death certificate. The non-randomness of the spatial distribution of the cases suggests areas that are vulnerable to these events. Knowing these areas can contribute to the choice of disease control strategies

Spatial risk of tuberculosis mortality and social vulnerability in Northeast Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common infectious disease in the world. We aimed to analyze the spatial risk of tuberculosis mortality and to verify associations in high-risk areas with social vulnerability. METHODS: This was an ecological study. The scan statistic was used to detect areas at risk, and the Bivariate Moran Index was used to verify relationships between variables. RESULTS: High-risk areas of tuberculosis mortality were statistically significantly associated with domain 2 of the Social Vulnerability Index (I=0.010; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence regarding areas with high risk and that vulnerability is a determinant of TB mortality.publishersversionpublishe

Spatial pattern and temporal trend of mortality due to tuberculosis

Objetivos: describir el perfil epidemiológico de la mortalidad por tuberculosis (TB), analizar el patrón espacial de estas muertes e investigar la tendencia temporal de la mortalidad por tuberculosis en el noreste de Brasil. Métodos: estudio ecológico basado en datos secundarios de mortalidad. Las muertes por TB se incluyeron en el estudio. Se calcularon las estadísticas descriptivas y se estimaron y suavizaron las tasas de mortalidad bruta mediante el Método Bayesiano Empírico Local. La regresión de Prais-Winsten se utilizó para analizar la tendencia temporal en los coeficientes de mortalidad por TB. La técnica de densidad de Kernel se utilizó para analizar la distribución espacial de la mortalidad por TB. Resultados: la tuberculosis estuvo presente en 236 muertes. El peso de muertes por tuberculosis fue mayor en hombres, personas solteras y personas de origen étnico mixto y la edad media al momento de la muerte fue de 51 años. Las muertes por tuberculosis se agruparon en los distritos de salud del este, oeste y norte y el coeficiente de mortalidad por tuberculosis se mantuvo estable durante todo el período de estudio. Conclusiones: los análisis del patrón espacial y la tendencia temporal de la mortalidad revelaron que ciertas áreas con tasas más altas de mortalidad por TB y, por lo tanto, deberían ser priorizadas en las intervenciones de salud pública dirigidas a esta enfermedad.Objectives: To describe the epidemiological profile of mortality due to tuberculosis (TB), to analyze the spatial pattern of these deaths and to investigate the temporal trend in mortality due to tuberculosis in Northeast Brazil. Methods: An ecological study based on secondary mortality data. Deaths due to TB were included in the study. Descriptive statistics were calculated and gross mortality rates were estimated and smoothed by the Local Empirical Bayesian Method. Prais-Winsten’s regression was used to analyze the temporal trend in the TB mortality coefficients. The Kernel density technique was used to analyze the spatial distribution of TB mortality. Results: Tuberculosis was implicated in 236 deaths. The burden of tuberculosis deaths was higher amongst males, single people and people of mixed ethnicity, and the mean age at death was 51 years. TB deaths were clustered in the East, West and North health districts, and the tuberculosis mortality coefficient remained stable throughout the study period. Conclusions: Analyses of the spatial pattern and temporal trend in mortality revealed that certain areas have higher TB mortality rates, and should therefore be prioritized in public health interventions targeting the disease.Objetivos: descrever o perfil epidemiológico da mortalidade por tuberculose (TB), analisar o padrão espacial dessas mortes e investigar a tendência temporal da mortalidade por tuberculose no Nordeste do Brasil. Métodos: estudo ecológico baseado em dados secundários de mortalidade. As mortes por TB foram incluídas no estudo. As estatísticas descritivas e as taxas brutas de mortalidade foram calculadas e suavizadas pelo Método Bayesiano Empírico Local. A regressão de Prais-Winsten foi utilizada para analisar a tendência temporal dos coeficientes de mortalidade por tuberculose. A técnica de densidade de Kernel foi utilizada para analisar a distribuição espacial da mortalidade por TB. Resultados: a tuberculose foi citada em 236 óbitos. A maioria das mortes por tuberculose ocorreu entre os homens, solteiros, de etnia mista e média de idade de 51 anos. As mortes por tuberculose concentraram-se nos distritos de saúde leste, oeste e norte e o coeficiente de mortalidade por tuberculose permaneceu estacionário ao longo do período de estudo. Conclusões: as análises do padrão espacial e da tendência temporal da mortalidade revelaram áreas com maiores taxas de mortalidade por TB, as quais devem ser priorizadas para intervenções de saúde pública visando o controle da doença

Integrated health service delivery networks and tuberculosis avoidable hospitalizations: is there a relation between them in Brazil?

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud The early identification of the Breathing Symptoms within the scope of Primary Health Care is recommended, and is also one of the strategies of national sanitary authorities for reaching the elimination of tuberculosis. The purpose of this study is to consider which attributes and which territories have shown the most significant progress in Primary Health Care, in terms of coordination of Health Care Networks, and also check if those areas of Primary Health Care that are most critical regarding coordination, there were more or less cases of avoidable hospitalizations for tuberculosis.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud This is an ecological study that uses primary and secondary data. For analysis, coropletic maps were developed through the ArcGIS software, version 10.2. There was also the calculation of gross annual and Bayesian rates for hospitalizations for tuberculosis, for each Primary Health Care territory.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud There were satisfactory results for attributes such as Population (n = 37; 80.4 %), Primary Health Care (n = 43; 93.5 %), Support System (n = 45; 97.8 %); the exceptions were Logistics System (n = 32; 76.0 %) and Governance System, with fewer units in good condition (n = 31; 67.3 %). There is no evidence of any connection between networks’ coordination by Primary Health Care and tuberculosis avoidable admissions.\ud \ud \ud Conclusion\ud The results show that progress has been made regarding the coordination of the Health Care Networks, and a positive trend has been shown, even though the levels are not excellent. It was found no relationship between the critical areas of Primary Health Care and tuberculosis avoidable hospitalizations, possibly because other variables necessary to comprehend the phenomena.We are grateful to the Municipal Secretariat for Health, for the partnership\ud and support they have provided in the materialization of the study. We also\ud thank the coordinators of the Health Districts, for the articulation with the\ud managers of the Units and also as they have made it possible for us to\ud participate in the Ordinary General Meeting for the presentation of the\ud study. We thank the managers of the Health Units who have so kindly\ud opened the doors of their Units to our team, also encouraging the\ud participation of their employees. We thank the health workers for having\ud agreed to participate in the study, essentially as they have believed in the\ud potential of Primary Health Care for a change in model. Last but not least, to\ud the team from the Reference Hospital for making available the secondary\ud data. The Foundation of Support for Research of the State of São Paulo\ud (Fundação de Amparo e Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP)\ud (Processes No. 2012/51235-5 and No. 2013/22486-2)

Hospitalizations and rehospitalizations due to Tuberculosis: Costs and Spatial Distribution Analysis in Natal/Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

As internações e reinternações por tuberculose (TB) representam elevada carga econômica e social para o sistema de saúde. Assim, objetivou-se analisar a distribuição espacial dos casos de internações e reinternações evitáveis por TB e seus custos para o sistema de saúde em Natal, no Rio Grande do Norte. Estudo exploratório descritivo, cujos dados foram obtidos no Sistema de Informação Hospitalar do Sistema Único de Saúde (SIH/SUS). A população compreende os casos de internação e reinternação por TB, classificados como evitáveis e ocorridos entre 2008 e 2013. Procedeu-se inicialmente às análises dos dados por meio de estatística descritiva e testes não paramétricos, realizados no software Statistica 12.0. A geocodificação das internações e reinternações foi processada no TerraView versão 4.2.2. Nas análises espaciais, os bairros e setores censitários foram as unidades geográficas adotadas. A técnica de densidade de pontos de Kernel foi aplicada. As taxas brutas foram estimadas e suavizadas pelo Método Bayesiano Empírico Global. Utilizaram-se os Índices de Moran Global e Local para avaliar a dependência espacial. Mapas coropléticos foram construídos no software ArcGis 10.2. Foram identificados 569 casos de internações por TB: 554 (97,4%) apresentaram a forma pulmonar; 353 (62,0%) possuíam idade entre 30 e 59 anos; 442 (77,7%) eram do sexo masculino; 290 (87,3%) de raça/cor parda. Do total de internações, 76 (13,4%) evoluíram para óbito e 102 (17,9%) reinternaram. No período estudado, foi gasto um montante de R$1.749.212,54 com internações e reinternações evitáveis por TB, representando um custo médio anual de R$ 291.535,42. As áreas com maiores densidades de internações e reinternações evitáveis por TB estão concentradas nos Distritos de Saúde Oeste, Norte e Leste. A distribuição espacial dos eventos foi heterogênea, com áreas de taxas elevadas nos Distritos Leste e Oeste. Na análise das taxas de internação por TB, encontrou-se Índice de Moran Global de 0,15 (p = 0,06) para os bairros e 0,16 (p = 0,01) para setores censitários. Já, para as taxas de reinternação por TB, o Índice de Moran Global foi 0,22 (p = 0,03) para os bairros e 0,03 (p = 0,04) para setores censitários, com clusters de internações Alto-Alto (n = 2 bairros - Santos Reis e Petrópolis, ambos situados no Distrito Leste) e clusters Baixo-Baixo (n = 4 bairros) em Bairros do Distrito Sul. No tocante aos clusters de reinternações, destacam-se n = 4 bairros Alto-Alto do Distrito Leste (Santos Reis, Petrópolis, Praia do Meio e Rocas), Baixo-Baixo (n = 3 bairros) no Distrito Norte (Pajuçara, Lagoa Azul e Potengi). O padrão de distribuição espacial desses eventos indica áreas vulneráveis à ocorrência de casos de internação e reinternação evitáveis por TB e sugere fragilidade no acesso à Atenção Primária à Saúde. O reconhecimento dessas áreas poderá contribuir com a gestão pública na melhoria do acesso aos serviços de saúde e no uso equitativo e eficiente dos recursos de saúde, visando à redução dos custos com esses eventos.Hospitalizations and rehospitalizations by tuberculosis (TB) represent a high economic and social burden for the health system. Thus, the aim was to analyze the spatial distribution of avoidable cases of hospitalizations and rehospitalizations for TB and their costs to the health system in Natal - Rio Grande do Norte State. It is a descriptive-exploratory study whose data were obtained in the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). The population includes cases of hospitalization and rehospitalization for TB classified as preventable that occurred between 2008 and 2013. Initially, the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests performed in the software Statistica 12.0. The geocoding of hospitalizations and readmissions was processed in TerraView, version 4.2.2. The neighborhoods and census tracts were the geographical units adopted in the spatial analyses. It was applied Kernel density estimation. Gross rates were estimated and smoothed by the Bayesian Global Empirical Method. Moran Global and Local Indices were used to evaluate the spatial dependence. Choropleth maps were constructed in the ArcGis 10.2 software. It was possible to identify 569 cases of TB hospitalizations of which 554 (97.4%) presented the pulmonary form, 353 (62.0%) were between 30 and 59 years, 442 (77.7%) were males and 290 (87.3%) were of brown color/race. Of the total hospitalizations, 76 (13.4%) died, and 102 (17.9%) were rehospitalized. In the period studied, an amount of R$1,749,212.54 was spent on avoidable hospitalizations and readmissions for TB, representing an average annual cost of R$ 291,535.42. The areas with the highest densities of avoidable hospitalizations and rehospitalizations for TB concentrated in the West, North and East Health Districts. The spatial distribution of events was heterogeneous, with areas of high rates in the Eastern and Western Districts. Moran Global index of 0.15 (p=0.06) for neighborhoods and 0.16 (p=0.01) for census tracts were found in the hospitalization rates analysis for TB. As for the rehospitalization rates of TB, Moran Global index was 0.22 (p=0.03) for the neighborhoods and 0.03 (p=0.04) for census tracts, with clusters of High-High hospitalizations (N=2 neighborhoods - Santos Reis and Petrópolis, both located in the Eastern District) and Low-Low clusters (n=4 neighborhoods) in the Southern District neighborhoods. About readmissions clusters, it is worth highlighting n=4 High-High neighborhoods of the Eastern District (Santos Reis, Petrópolis, Praia do Meio and Rocas) and Low-Low (n=3 neighborhoods) in the Northern District (Pajuçara, Lagoa Azul and Potengi). The spatial distribution pattern of these events indicates vulnerable areas to the occurrence of avoidable cases of hospitalization and rehospitalization by TB and suggests some fragility to the access for Primary Health Care. The recognition of such areas may contribute to improving the public management for health services access and the equitable and efficient use of health resources to reduce the costs of these events

Hospitalizations and rehospitalizations due to Tuberculosis: Costs and Spatial Distribution Analysis in Natal/Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

As internações e reinternações por tuberculose (TB) representam elevada carga econômica e social para o sistema de saúde. Assim, objetivou-se analisar a distribuição espacial dos casos de internações e reinternações evitáveis por TB e seus custos para o sistema de saúde em Natal, no Rio Grande do Norte. Estudo exploratório descritivo, cujos dados foram obtidos no Sistema de Informação Hospitalar do Sistema Único de Saúde (SIH/SUS). A população compreende os casos de internação e reinternação por TB, classificados como evitáveis e ocorridos entre 2008 e 2013. Procedeu-se inicialmente às análises dos dados por meio de estatística descritiva e testes não paramétricos, realizados no software Statistica 12.0. A geocodificação das internações e reinternações foi processada no TerraView versão 4.2.2. Nas análises espaciais, os bairros e setores censitários foram as unidades geográficas adotadas. A técnica de densidade de pontos de Kernel foi aplicada. As taxas brutas foram estimadas e suavizadas pelo Método Bayesiano Empírico Global. Utilizaram-se os Índices de Moran Global e Local para avaliar a dependência espacial. Mapas coropléticos foram construídos no software ArcGis 10.2. Foram identificados 569 casos de internações por TB: 554 (97,4%) apresentaram a forma pulmonar; 353 (62,0%) possuíam idade entre 30 e 59 anos; 442 (77,7%) eram do sexo masculino; 290 (87,3%) de raça/cor parda. Do total de internações, 76 (13,4%) evoluíram para óbito e 102 (17,9%) reinternaram. No período estudado, foi gasto um montante de R$1.749.212,54 com internações e reinternações evitáveis por TB, representando um custo médio anual de R$ 291.535,42. As áreas com maiores densidades de internações e reinternações evitáveis por TB estão concentradas nos Distritos de Saúde Oeste, Norte e Leste. A distribuição espacial dos eventos foi heterogênea, com áreas de taxas elevadas nos Distritos Leste e Oeste. Na análise das taxas de internação por TB, encontrou-se Índice de Moran Global de 0,15 (p = 0,06) para os bairros e 0,16 (p = 0,01) para setores censitários. Já, para as taxas de reinternação por TB, o Índice de Moran Global foi 0,22 (p = 0,03) para os bairros e 0,03 (p = 0,04) para setores censitários, com clusters de internações Alto-Alto (n = 2 bairros - Santos Reis e Petrópolis, ambos situados no Distrito Leste) e clusters Baixo-Baixo (n = 4 bairros) em Bairros do Distrito Sul. No tocante aos clusters de reinternações, destacam-se n = 4 bairros Alto-Alto do Distrito Leste (Santos Reis, Petrópolis, Praia do Meio e Rocas), Baixo-Baixo (n = 3 bairros) no Distrito Norte (Pajuçara, Lagoa Azul e Potengi). O padrão de distribuição espacial desses eventos indica áreas vulneráveis à ocorrência de casos de internação e reinternação evitáveis por TB e sugere fragilidade no acesso à Atenção Primária à Saúde. O reconhecimento dessas áreas poderá contribuir com a gestão pública na melhoria do acesso aos serviços de saúde e no uso equitativo e eficiente dos recursos de saúde, visando à redução dos custos com esses eventos.Hospitalizations and rehospitalizations by tuberculosis (TB) represent a high economic and social burden for the health system. Thus, the aim was to analyze the spatial distribution of avoidable cases of hospitalizations and rehospitalizations for TB and their costs to the health system in Natal - Rio Grande do Norte State. It is a descriptive-exploratory study whose data were obtained in the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). The population includes cases of hospitalization and rehospitalization for TB classified as preventable that occurred between 2008 and 2013. Initially, the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests performed in the software Statistica 12.0. The geocoding of hospitalizations and readmissions was processed in TerraView, version 4.2.2. The neighborhoods and census tracts were the geographical units adopted in the spatial analyses. It was applied Kernel density estimation. Gross rates were estimated and smoothed by the Bayesian Global Empirical Method. Moran Global and Local Indices were used to evaluate the spatial dependence. Choropleth maps were constructed in the ArcGis 10.2 software. It was possible to identify 569 cases of TB hospitalizations of which 554 (97.4%) presented the pulmonary form, 353 (62.0%) were between 30 and 59 years, 442 (77.7%) were males and 290 (87.3%) were of brown color/race. Of the total hospitalizations, 76 (13.4%) died, and 102 (17.9%) were rehospitalized. In the period studied, an amount of R$1,749,212.54 was spent on avoidable hospitalizations and readmissions for TB, representing an average annual cost of R$ 291,535.42. The areas with the highest densities of avoidable hospitalizations and rehospitalizations for TB concentrated in the West, North and East Health Districts. The spatial distribution of events was heterogeneous, with areas of high rates in the Eastern and Western Districts. Moran Global index of 0.15 (p=0.06) for neighborhoods and 0.16 (p=0.01) for census tracts were found in the hospitalization rates analysis for TB. As for the rehospitalization rates of TB, Moran Global index was 0.22 (p=0.03) for the neighborhoods and 0.03 (p=0.04) for census tracts, with clusters of High-High hospitalizations (N=2 neighborhoods - Santos Reis and Petrópolis, both located in the Eastern District) and Low-Low clusters (n=4 neighborhoods) in the Southern District neighborhoods. About readmissions clusters, it is worth highlighting n=4 High-High neighborhoods of the Eastern District (Santos Reis, Petrópolis, Praia do Meio and Rocas) and Low-Low (n=3 neighborhoods) in the Northern District (Pajuçara, Lagoa Azul and Potengi). The spatial distribution pattern of these events indicates vulnerable areas to the occurrence of avoidable cases of hospitalization and rehospitalization by TB and suggests some fragility to the access for Primary Health Care. The recognition of such areas may contribute to improving the public management for health services access and the equitable and efficient use of health resources to reduce the costs of these events

Spatial analysis of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis in the city of São Luís, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To characterize deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis, according to sociodemographic and operational variables, in the city of São Luís, Brazil, and to describe their spatial distribution. METHODS: This was an exploratory ecological study based on secondary data from death certificates, obtained from the Brazilian Mortality Database, related to deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis. We included all deaths attributed to pulmonary tuberculosis that occurred in the urban area of São Luís between 2008 and 2012. We performed univariate and bivariate analyses of the sociodemographic and operational variables of the deaths investigated, as well as evaluating the spatial distribution of the events by kernel density estimation. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 193 deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis in São Luís. The median age of the affected individuals was 52 years. Of the 193 individuals who died, 142 (73.60%) were male, 133 (68.91%) were Mulatto, 102 (53.13%) were single, and 64 (33.16%) had completed middle school. There was a significant positive association between not having received medical care prior to death and an autopsy having been performed (p = 0.001). A thematic map by density of points showed that the spatial distribution of those deaths was heterogeneous and that the density was as high as 8.12 deaths/km2. CONCLUSIONS: The sociodemographic and operational characteristics of the deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis evaluated in this study, as well as the identification of priority areas for control and surveillance of the disease, could promote public health policies aimed at reducing health inequities, allowing the optimization of resources, as well as informing decisions regarding the selection of strategies and specific interventions targeting the most vulnerable populations

Spatial analysis of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis in the city of São Luís, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To characterize deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis, according to sociodemographic and operational variables, in the city of São Luís, Brazil, and to describe their spatial distribution. METHODS: This was an exploratory ecological study based on secondary data from death certificates, obtained from the Brazilian Mortality Database, related to deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis. We included all deaths attributed to pulmonary tuberculosis that occurred in the urban area of São Luís between 2008 and 2012. We performed univariate and bivariate analyses of the sociodemographic and operational variables of the deaths investigated, as well as evaluating the spatial distribution of the events by kernel density estimation. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 193 deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis in São Luís. The median age of the affected individuals was 52 years. Of the 193 individuals who died, 142 (73.60%) were male, 133 (68.91%) were Mulatto, 102 (53.13%) were single, and 64 (33.16%) had completed middle school. There was a significant positive association between not having received medical care prior to death and an autopsy having been performed (p = 0.001). A thematic map by density of points showed that the spatial distribution of those deaths was heterogeneous and that the density was as high as 8.12 deaths/km2. CONCLUSIONS: The sociodemographic and operational characteristics of the deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis evaluated in this study, as well as the identification of priority areas for control and surveillance of the disease, could promote public health policies aimed at reducing health inequities, allowing the optimization of resources, as well as informing decisions regarding the selection of strategies and specific interventions targeting the most vulnerable populations

Epidemiological characteristics of cases of death from tuberculosis and vulnerable territories

Objective: to characterize the differences in the clinical and epidemiological profile of cases of death that had tuberculosis as an immediate or associated cause, and to analyze the spatial distribution of the cases of death from tuberculosis within the territories of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.Method: an ecological study, in which the population consisted of 114 cases of death from tuberculosis. Bivariate analysis was carried out, as well as point density analysis, defined with the Kernel estimate.Results: of the cases of death from tuberculosis, 50 were the immediate cause and 64 an associated cause. Age (p=.008) and sector responsible for the death certificate (p=.003) were the variables that presented statistically significant associations with the cause of death. The spatial distribution, in both events, did not occur randomly, forming clusters in areas of the municipality.Conclusion: the difference in the profiles of the cases of death from tuberculosis, as a basic cause and as an associated cause, was governed by the age and the sector responsible for the completion of the death certificate. The non-randomness of the spatial distribution of the cases suggests areas that are vulnerable to these events. Knowing these areas can contribute to the choice of disease control strategies