EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF TUBERCULOSIS NOTIFICATIONS IN A GENERAL HOSPITAL IN SÃO PAULO

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mainly affecting the lungs through the pulmonary form, but it can affect other organs and systems through extrapulmonary forms, especially in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Despite being an ancient disease, tuberculosis remains a serious public health problem, affecting about 10 million people annually and causing more than one million deaths. Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of patients notified to the Ministry of Health in a General Hospital in São Paulo from January 2021 to June 2023. Method: A survey of Tuberculosis Epidemiological Investigation Forms (FIE) was conducted, and their data were compiled, stratifying by clinical form of tuberculosis, vulnerability, and first treatment. Results: Seventy-four cases were analyzed between January 2021 and June 2023. The pulmonary form was the most prevalent, accounting for 70.0% of cases, followed by pleural (20.6%), bone and ocular (2.7%), and miliary (6.7%) forms. The analysis also revealed the distribution of vulnerabilities in the studied population, including people living with HIV (PVH, 33.6%), people experiencing homelessness (PSR, 27.7%), and people deprived of liberty (PPL, 18.2%). There were no recorded cases among Indigenous people (ING), while people with chemical dependence (DQ) comprised 20.5% of cases. New cases accounted for 20.2% and retreatment for 79.8%, indicating challenges in treatment adherence, especially among PSR and DQ. Comments: In light of the results, HIV investigation is recommended for all patients with tuberculosis. Proper and complete completion of the FIE allows recognition of risks in the local population. Adopting strategies aimed at adequate investigation in population groups of greater relevance to the disease thus ensures better disease management control, initiated at the local level. Knowing and identifying local human groups with greater vulnerability facilitates and ensures better action and control at the national level. Tuberculosis has a cure rate of 95% (MS), reinforcing the effectiveness of treatment when properly administered. Early recognition of patients at potential risk and adequate identification of the disease corroborate better cure outcomes and reduced transmission among the general population. This study contributes to tuberculosis management in the local context, enabling improvement in investigation strategies.