title: Morbidity by tuberculosis in the Jiu Valley: relation with diagnostic practice and the impact on therapeutic results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the last two and a half decades the dynamics of tuberculosis has been modelled by social and economic conditions, with consequences on the life style, and effects on the onset and evolution of the disease. The Jiu Valley is an area with social problems: mining, mines closing down and ceasing activity, poverty. We looked for a relationship between changes of life style in the Jiu Valley and the dynamics of tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 528 patients who asked for medical services in different hospitals in the Jiu Valley between 2010-2013. We structurally characterized this group, we identified the characteristics of life style, and we assessed the health state, in particular the relation with tuberculosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found out that the quality of life was influenced by the health state, especially by tuberculous disease. Quality of life was influenced by the life style, professional factors and their long term consequences. The study evidenced a strong relationship between apparently very different factors such as life style, professional factors on one side and those characterizing tuberculosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report the first detailed epidemiological data on tuberculosis in an economically poor area, the Jiu Valley.
authors.affiliation: County Hospital of Petrosani, Romania.
authors.forename: Nicolae
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petre
authors.affiliation: Leon Daniello Clinical Hospital of Pneumology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Homorodean
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Carmen Monica
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pop
keywords: alcoholism; life style; professional factors; tobacco dependence; tuberculosis