Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients hospitalized with tuberculosis in Brasil between 1994 and 2004.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with tuberculosis hospitalized in the Nestor Goulart Reis Hospital, located in the city of Américo Brasiliense, Brazil.


METHODS
Epidemiological investigation by means of an observational, retrospective, descriptive study based on the medical charts of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis and hospitalized between 1994 and 2004.


RESULTS
There were 1787 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis during the period evaluated. Of those, 117 (7%) were females, 1670 (93%) were males; 1215 (68%) were single, separated or widowed. Most of the patients (74%) had not completed middle school, and most (63%) were between 30 and 50 years of age. In addition, 61% suffered from alcoholism. The most common occupation was farm worker (25% of the patients), and 70% of the patients were unemployed. The most common clinical form of the disease was the pulmonary form (in 92%). The rate of medical discharge was 60%. The treatment regimen differed from the standard (rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide) in 34% of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The profile of the patients with tuberculosis hospitalized in the hospital studied showed that they had special requirements: they were unable to take care of themselves (social cases) and required alternative treatment regimens, which justified their hospitalization. This hospital played an important social role in the treatment and guidance of these patients.
Severo
Norma Pinheiro Franco
NP
Department of Biological Sciences of the Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Paulista State University - Araraquara (SP) Brazil.
Leite
Clarice Queico Fujimura
CQ
Capela
Marisa Veiga
MV
Simões
Maria Jacira da Silva
MJ
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents