[Distribution and trends of tuberculosis by age groups and municipalities in La Habana City, Cuba (1986-1998)].
BACKGROUND
The province of Havana City, the capital and most densely populated city in Cuba, totals around 27% of the new cases of tuberculosis. This article is for the purpose of describing the distribution and trend of the tuberculosis cases rates from 1986 to 1998, by municipalities and age groups in this province.


METHODS
A calculation was made of the rates and of the total percentage of deviation of these rates, in addition to the annual average deviation both throughout two time periods and between the two (1986-1993 and 1994-1998). The trends were calculated by simple linear regression.


RESULTS
Throughout the 1986-1993 period, the case rate for this province underwent a 6% increase. Throughout the 1994-1998 period, it dropped by 7.3%. The three most densely-populated cities showed a higher rate increase. Of the 15 municipalities, only La Lisa showed a drop in the rates throughout the entire period in question. The rates by ages were similar throughout all of the municipalities, being higher for individuals > 65 years of age. Six tenths (0.6%) of the cases reported involved people under 15 years of age. The infantile tuberculosis rates were very low for the time period under analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences among the municipalities in question make it necessary for different measures to be taken to achieve a greater impact and repercussion in Cuba. The drop in the rates detected over the last three years is indicative of the epidemic being brought under control and the national tuberculosis control program being reinstated.
Borroto Gutiérrez
S
S
Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri, Apartado Postal 601, Marianao 13, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. susana@ipk.sld.cu
Armas Pérez
L
L
González Ochoa
E
E
Peláez Sánchez
O
O
Arteaga Yero
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AL
Sevy Court
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population
Distribución y tendencia de la tuberculosis por grupos de edades y por municipios en ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. (1986-1998).