Epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in Iraq during 2011–2018

Abstract

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is one of the most progressive infectious diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The pathogen is the first cause of mortality linked to a single pathogen worldwide, especially in poor and developing countries. MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to estimate incidence rate (IR) of TB in Iraq during a period of eight years (2011–2018). TB data were extracted from the computer system of the National Specialized Center for Chest and Respiratory Diseases in Baghdad. ResultsDuring 2011–2018, 65,102 confirmed TB cases were reported in Iraq; 39,640 pulmonary TB (PTB) and 25,462 extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB). The average IR (case/100,000 inhabitants) of TB was 23.4 (14.2 for PTB and 9.1 for EPTB). Annual rate of TB cases showed a gradual decline over years (from 29.2 in 2011 to 18.6 in 2018). The decline in IR was more pronounced in PTB than EPTB. However PTB/EPTB ratio showed a gradual decreasing over years (from 2.04 in 2011 to 1.56 in 2018). GIS-mapping revealed that PTB and EPTB IRs show variations between the 18 governorates of Iraq. Most of the recorded PTB cases were new (average: 90.5%), followed by relapse cases (average: 7.9%). Among the reported PTB cases, percentage of males was greater than females (average: 52.1 vs. 47.9%), whereas an opposite trend was observed in EPTB (42.9 vs. 57.1%). The frequency distribution of PTB and EPTB varied between age groups, and lowest average frequency was recorded in age groups 1–4 and 5–14 year. ConclusionsTB is still a public health threat, and although a declining trend in incidence was depicted over the years 2011–2018, the disease is still out of control in Iraq, and more investments of resource are necessitated to eliminate the disease. In this context, EPTB and PTB relapse need a recognized attention.