title: Recent epidemiological trends in tuberculous pleural effusion in Galicia, Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowledge on the distribution and determinants of tuberculous pleural effusions (TBPE) is incomplete. We aimed to describe the epidemiological trends and individual characteristics of TBPE in Galicia, Spain, over a 10-year period (2000-2009).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, observational study based on epidemiological data obtained from the Galician Tuberculosis Register.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 1835 cases of TBPE (16.3% of the total 11,241 TB cases reported). The number and incidence of TBPE decreased significantly during the study period, from (262 and 9.6/100,000 inhabitants in 2000, to 133 and 4.8 in 2009, respectively; P<.001 for both). The mean annual decrease in TBPE incidence was 6.9%, and 50% overall. TBPE mainly affected males (63.5%), precisely 61.2% young males between 15 and 44 years. Twenty-five percent had lung involvement (chest X-ray), and 41.7% had a positive sputum culture. A significant increase (P<.001) was observed during the study in the percentage of patients who had more TB risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of TBPE decreased significantly during the study period, with no changes in epidemiological characteristics, and with trends similar to the total number of TB cases. The introduction of the Galician Prevention and Control Plan (GPCP) for tuberculosis appears to be effective for better control of TB.
authors: Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. luis.valdes.cuadrado@sergas.es
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Valdés
authors: Lucía
authors: L
authors: Ferreiro
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Cruz-Ferro
authors: Francisco J
authors: FJ
authors: González-Barcala
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Gude
authors: María I
authors: MI
authors: Ursúa
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Alvarez-Dobaño
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Golpe
authors: María E
authors: ME
authors: Toubes
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Paniagua
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Taboada-Rodríguez
authors: Joan B
authors: JB
authors: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult