Tuberculosis at Public Health Unit of Santa Maria da Feira and Arouca (Portugal)

Abstract

Abstract Introduction In the last decade Portugal has seen a decrease of about 40% in the notification and incidence rate of tuberculosis, with incidence values below 20/100,000 inhabitants since 2015. In 2018, a notification rate estimated at a national level was 16,6/100,000 inhabitants and an incidence rate of 16.4/100,000 inhabitants. With this investigation we intend to I) determine the notification and incidence rate of tuberculosis at the Public Health Unit (PHU) of Santa Maria da Feira and Arouca (Portugal); II) analyze the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods The confirmed cases of tuberculosis between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019 were analyzed. Results 105 cases of tuberculosis were identified, most of them male (67%), aged between the 1 year and 94 years age (median: 52 years). About ⅓ of the patients were retired. Among the co-morbidities that constitute a risk for tuberculosis, we highlight COPD (7.6%), alcohol abuse (5.7%) and HIV (3.8%). The pulmonary location prevailed (81.9%). We emphasize that 52 cases had positive smear microscopy and 42 cases cavitation. From 2017 to 2019 we have a median of 61 days from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis. From 2015 to 2019, 4 cases with poly-resistance to isoniazid and streptomycin were identified. In 2019, the incidence rate tuberculosis was 12.5/100,000 inhabitants and the notification rate of 16.3/100,000 inhabitants. Conclusions The incidence and notification rate like the median between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis, by the public health unit (PHU), are below the national average. Regarding these results, we recommend that the strategy adopted by the PHU should be maintained. Key messages In the last decade Portugal has seen a decrease of about 40% in the notification and incidence rate of tuberculosis, with incidence values below 20/100,000 inhabitants since 2015. In 2019, the incidence rate tuberculosis at PHU was 12.5/100,000 inhabitants and the notification rate of 16.3/100,000 inhabitants.