Evaluation of tuberculosis cases occurring in ten outlying cities and reported in the Entorno region of the state of Goiás and reported in the neighboring Federal District: analysis of the incidence of tuberculosis in those cites.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate tuberculosis cases occurring in the greater metropolitan area of the Distrito Federal (MADF, encompassing the Federal District, i.e., the national capital of Brasília, located in the state of Goiás) but reported in Brasília itself and to analyze the influence that this has on the effectiveness of the tuberculosis control program, as well as on the collection of socioeconomic and demographic data related to tuberculosis incidence rates.


METHODS
Rates of tuberculosis incidence, cure, noncompliance, treatment failure, mortality, and referral, as well as socioeconomic and demographic data, were reviewed for patients from ten MADF cities.


RESULTS
From 2000 to 2004, 714 new cases of tuberculosis were reported in the cities studied, 436 (61%) of which were treated in Brasília and were therefore not included in the Goiás database. Among patients treated only in the MADF cities studied, the mean incidence of tuberculosis ranged from 4.40 to 10.02/100,000 inhabitants. When those treated in Brasília were included, the incidence significantly increased, ranging from 15.16 to 20.54/100,000 inhabitants (p < 0.001). The rate at which contacts of tuberculosis patients were investigated was low, and treatment outcomes were unsatisfactory in the MADF cities studied and in Brasília. Socioeconomic and demographic data were consistent with the tuberculosis incidence.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of tuberculosis patients treated in the city in which they resided was lower than expected. Treatment in another city might impair tuberculosis control. The recalculated tuberculosis incidence is consistent with the socioeconomic and demographic profile of the region. A federal surveillance system could be efficiently optimized, improving the control of this disease.
Moreira
Maria Auxiliadora Carmo
MA
Serviço de Pneumologia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil. helpuol@uol.com.br
Bello
Aline Sampaio
AS
Alves
Maristela dos Reis Luz
Mdos R
Silva
Miramar Vieira da
MV
Lorusso
Vincenza
V
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities; D016208:Databases, Factual; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018881:Suburban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data