Distribution of tuberculosis cases in the state of Paraná: an ecological study, Brazil, 2018-2021

Objective to analyze the distribution of tuberculosis cases in the state of Paraná, Brazil, between 2018 and 2021. Methods this was an ecological study using secondary data obtained from compulsory notifications; detection rates per 100,000 inhabitants were described according to health regions in the state; percentage changes between 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 were calculated. Results a total of 7,099 cases were registered. The highest rates were observed in the health regions of Paranaguá (52.4/100,000 in 2018-2019; 38.2/100,000 in 2020-2021) and Foz do Iguaçu (34.4/100,000 in 2018-2019; 20.5/100,000 in 2020-2021), and the lowest rates in Irati (6.3/100,000 in 2018-2019; 8.8/100,000 in 2020-2021) and Francisco Beltrão (8.5/100,000 in 2018-2019; 7.6/100,000 in 2020-2021); in 2020-2021, it could be seen a decrease in percentage changes in 18 health regions, while there was an increase in four of them, especially Foz do Iguaçu (-40.5%) and Cianorte (+53.6%). Conclusion high rates were found in the coastal and triple border regions; and there was a decline in detection rates in the pandemic period.