title: Characteristics of tuberculosis in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: 2002-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the profile of tuberculosis cases reported between 2002 and 2009 in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, according to sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics, as well as to comorbidities and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive, epidemiological study based on data obtained from the Brazilian Case Registry Database and the Brazilian Mortality Database for the 2002-2009 period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 47,285 reported cases of tuberculosis, corresponding to a mean incidence of 22.3/100,000 population. The individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis were predominantly in the 20- to 49-year age bracket and male (62.4% and 67.0%, respectively). Individuals with a low level of education accounted for 18.5% of the cases. New cases, cases of recurrence, and cases of retreatment accounted for 83.7%, 5.7%, 5.7%, respectively. The rates of cure and treatment noncompliance were 66.2% and 11.2%, respectively; multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was identified in 0.2% of the cases; and the mortality rate was 12.9%. The directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) strategy was applied in 21.8% of the cases. Sputum smear microscopy and culture were performed in only 73.9% and 12.9% of the cases, respectively. Chest X-rays were performed in 90.5% of the cases. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the predominant form (in 83.9%). Comorbidity with alcoholism, HIV infection, and diabetes mellitus were identified in 17.2%, 8.3%, and 3.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the study period, the numbers of new cases, cases of treatment noncompliance, and deaths were high, comorbidities were common, and there was a failure to perform adequately basic tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Multidisciplinary approaches, expanded use of the DOTS strategy, better knowledge of the distribution of tuberculosis, and improvements in the databases are needed in order to achieve better control of the disease in the state of Minas Gerais.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, School of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudio José
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.forename: Wânia da Silva
authors.initials: Wda S
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Alan Douglas
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Maria das Graças Braga
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Ceccato
authors.forename: Silvana Spindola de
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult