Clinical-epidemiological profile of patients with tuberculosis in Alagoas

Objective: To evaluate the clinical-epidemiological profile of patients with tuberculosis in Alagoas. Methods: Observational study of historical analysis type. From January 2005 to December 2015, a survey was carried out of cases notified in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases and in reference centers for the treatment of tuberculosis in Alagoas. Results: 12,432 cases were reported, with a mean incidence of 35.7/100,000 inhabitants (31.8% reduction compared to the previous period). There was a predominance of males (61%), with 58.6% aged between 20 and 49 years, 69.4% brown and most with low education. The pulmonary form was predominant in 87.4% of the cases. The most frequent comorbidity was alcoholism (15.5%), followed by diabetes mellitus and human immunodeficiency virus infection, 7.8% and 5.3%, respectively. Cure occurred in 74.6% of cases and treatment was abandoned in 10.5%. Of the 127 patients referred to the reference centers, drug resistance was observed in 55.1% and adverse effects in 29.1%. There was a higher frequency of adverse effects in females under 40 years of age and of drug resistance in individuals under 40 years of age. Conclusion: The average incidence rate of tuberculosis in Alagoas, in the period, was 35.7/100 thousand inhabitants, representing a decrease of 31.8% in the last 10 years. The clinical-epidemiological profile was similar to that reported in the literature. In reference centers, patients with multidrug-resistant forms of tuberculosis or with adverse effects were predominantly referred. The analysis of cases of multidrug resistance and adverse effects requires a prospective study with an adequate sample.