Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory profile of people with tuberculosis in a referral center: a cohort study, Belo Horizonte, 2013-2021

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory profile of people with tuberculosis. METHODS: This was an observational clinical-epidemiological cohort study of people with tuberculosis treated at the Secondary Referral Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, from January 2013 to August 2021. The cases were evaluated from the diagnosis onward and followed after entry into the outpatient clinic until the second month of treatment, as well as at the end of treatment. Data were collected through interviews and/or review of medical records, the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System, and the Special Tuberculosis Treatment Information System. RESULTS: A total of 227 cases were identified: 40.1% with pulmonary tuberculosis, 50.7% with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and 9.2% with both forms. At the first visit, the main symptom among those with pulmonary tuberculosis was cough (76.9%); in extrapulmonary tuberculosis, symptoms were associated with the affected organ; and in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, anorexia was reported in 47.6% of cases. The most frequent comorbidity was diabetes (20.7%). By the end of the second month, clinical, laboratory, and radiological improvement was observed. Treatment outcome was cure in 92.5% of cases, and directly observed treatment was performed in 7.6%. CONCLUSION: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis was the most frequent form, directly observed treatment was rarely implemented, and the cure rate was high. Determining population profiles in Secondary Referral Centers identifies outcomes that may indicate the quality of care provided.