Clinical and epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in an urban area with high human development index in southeastern Brazil. Time series study

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: In the twenty-first century, tuberculosis remains a serious public health problem in Brazil. The aim here was to characterize tuberculosis in a municipality with a high human development index (HDI), based on clinical and epidemiological variables. DESIGN AND SETTING: Epidemiological study with analysis of incidence that included 533 new cases of tuberculosis in the municipality of Araraquara, São Paulo, reported to the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) between 2002 and 2011. METHODS: To identify trends, this period was divided into two five-year periods (2002-2006 and 2007-2011). The incidence rates were compared using ratios and confidence intervals. RESULTS: The incidence of tuberculosis was 26.82 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and decreased by 22% between the two periods, which was statistically significant. Cases were more prevalent among men (72.61%) and among adults between 30 and 59 years of age with non-specialized professions and low education levels. There was a statistically significant reduction in cases among individuals over 50. The age group with highest incidence was 50-59 years in the first period and 30-39 years in the second. Total recovery occurred in more than 70%. There was a reduction in the number of diagnoses made within primary care and an increase within public hospital care between the two periods. The most common coinfections were AIDS and hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of tuberculosis in this municipality was lower than the national incidence, with a declining trend and a high cure rate, and the main coinfections were AIDS and hepatitis C

Fatores associados ao acesso geográfico aos serviços de saúde por pessoas com tuberculose em três capitais do Nordeste brasileiro

O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar fatores associados ao acesso geográfico aos serviços de saúde por portadores de tuberculose em três capitais do Nordeste do Brasil. A amostra foi composta por casos novos de tuberculose, notificados em 2007. Foram utilizados dados provenientes do Sistema de Informação sobre Agravos de Notificação, e do Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimento de Saúde. Os endereços dos domicílios e das unidades de saúde foram georreferenciados e, utilizando a distância entre o domicílio e a unidade de atendimento de cada caso, foi considerado acesso dificultado quando esta distância foi maior do que 800 metros. Foram estimadas as razões de prevalência bruta e ajustada por meio de regressão de Poisson. Verificou-se que após ajuste com as variáveis estudadas, apenas a variável unidade básica, em Salvador, Bahia (RP = 0,75; IC95%: 0,720-0,794) e em Recife, Pernambuco (RP = 0,402; IC95%: 0,318-0,508), manteve associação com o acesso dificultado. O estudo concluiu que a descentralização do atendimento em unidade básica pode contribuir com a melhoria do acesso aos serviços de saúde.</p

Spatial analysis of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil (2006-2012)

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil, and to identify spatial and space-time clusters for the risk of occurrence of these events. METHODS This is a descriptive, ecological study that considered the hospitalizations records of the Hospital Information System of residents of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Southeastern Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. Only the cases with recorded addresses were considered for the spatial analyses, and they were also geocoded. We resorted to Kernel density estimation to identify the densest areas, local empirical Bayes rate as the method for smoothing the incidence rates of hospital admissions, and scan statistic for identifying clusters of risk. Softwares ArcGis 10.2, TerraView 4.2.2, and SaTScanTM were used in the analysis. RESULTS We identified 169 hospitalizations due to tuberculosis. Most were of men (n = 134; 79.2%), averagely aged 48 years (SD = 16.2). The predominant clinical form was the pulmonary one, which was confirmed through a microscopic examination of expectorated sputum (n = 66; 39.0%). We geocoded 159 cases (94.0%). We observed a non-random spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis concentrated in the northern and western regions of the municipality. Through the scan statistic, three spatial clusters for risk of hospitalizations due to tuberculosis were identified, one of them in the northern region of the municipality (relative risk [RR] = 3.4; 95%CI 2.7–4,4); the second in the central region, where there is a prison unit (RR = 28.6; 95%CI 22.4–36.6); and the last one in the southern region, and area of protection for hospitalizations (RR = 0.2; 95%CI 0.2–0.3). We did not identify any space-time clusters. CONCLUSIONS The investigation showed priority areas for the control and surveillance of tuberculosis, as well as the profile of the affected population, which shows important aspects to be considered in terms of management and organization of health care services targeting effectiveness in primary health care

Spatial distribution of tuberculosis in a municipality in the interior of São Paulo, 2008-2013

Objective: to describe the epidemiological clinical profile of tuberculosis and analyze the spatial distribution of cases in a municipality in the state of São Paulo. Method: descriptive and ecological study of cases of tuberculosis through the records in an information system. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate central tendency (mean) and chi-square test, with Yates correction or Fisher exact test, when necessary. The Kernel technique was also used to calculate the occurrence densities of tuberculosis cases, using a radius of 1000 meters. Type I error was set at 5%. Results: 299 cases of tuberculosis were identified, with 290 (96.98%) being geocoded. The majority of these were male (n = 212; 70.91%), median age 40 years, and the pulmonary clinical form was predominant (n = 244, 81.60%). The distribution occurred in a non-random manner, observing important areas of the municipality with a higher density of cases of the disease. Conclusion: the study evidenced an epidemiological profile of tuberculosis cases similar to those in the literature; however, their distribution does not occur in a random manner, pointing to specific population groups that require greater management and planning of health services for the control of tuberculosis.Objetivo: caracterizar el perfil epidemiológico clínico de tuberculosis y analizar la distribución espacial de casos en un municipio paulista. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y ecológico de casos de tuberculosis registrados en un sistema de información. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva con medidas de tendencia central (media) y aplicación de chi-cuadrado, con correlación de Yates o prueba exacta de Fisher según necesidad. Para el calcular la densidad en la ocurrencia de casos de tuberculosis, se aplicó la técnica uniforme Kernel utilizando una distancia de 1000 metros. El error de tipo I fue fijado en 5%. Resultados: Se identificaron 299 casos de tuberculosis, siendo geocodificados 290 (96.98%). La mayoría de los casos fueron de sexo masculino (n=212; 70,91%), con edad mediana de 40 años, siendo la forma pulmonar la más predominante (n=244; 81,60%). La distribución de casos fue forma no aleatoria, identificando áreas del municipio con mayor densidad de casos con esta patología. Conclusión: el perfil epidemiológico de casos de tuberculosis observado fue similar a lo observado en la literatura, aunque la distribución de estos no ocurre de manera aleatoria, identificando grupos específicos de la población los cuales requieren de mayores gestión y planificación en los servicios de salud para el control de la tuberculosis.Objetivo: caracterizar o perfil clínico epidemiológico da tuberculose (TB) e analisar a distribuição espacial dos casos em município paulista. Método: estudo descritivo e ecológico dos casos de tuberculose registrados em um sistema de informação. Recorreu-se à estatística descritiva com cálculo de medidas de tendência central (média) e aplicação do teste qui-quadrado, com correção de Yates ou teste exato de Fisher, quando necessários. Aplicou-se ainda a técnica de Kernel para o cálculo das densidades de ocorrência dos casos da TB, utilizando um raio de 1000 metros. Fixou-se o erro tipo I em 5%. Resultados: identificou-se 299 casos de TB, sendo geocodificados 290 (96,98%). A maioria destes foi do sexo masculino (n=212; 70,91%), idade mediana 40 anos, sendo a forma clínica pulmonar predominante (n=244; 81,60%). A distribuição ocorreu de forma não aleatória, observando-se áreas importantes do município com maior densidade de casos da doença. Conclusão: o estudo evidenciou perfil epidemiológico dos casos de tuberculose semelhante ao da literatura, no entanto, a distribuição dos mesmos não ocorre de forma aleatória, apontando grupos específicos da população que necessitam de maior gestão e planejamento dos serviços de saúde para o controle da tuberculose