ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The diseases' declaration is a fundamental tool in public health. It's essential to know the magnitude of the problem and decide properly how to solve it. The active finding of cases allows us to know cases that weren't registered by means of the passive declaration. In this study, we intend to analyze whether tuberculosis (TB) cases detected by Tuberculosis Units (TBU) by active finding are different to those reported passively by health professionals. METHODS: Data from the Galician Registry of Tuberculosis (SITUB) were collected analyzing the 2,753 TB cases detected between 2014 and 2018. Confidence intervals were compared and the data were analyzed with Chi square or T-Student tests as required. RESULTS: 44.67% of TB cases of were detected by TBU by active finding. A higher proportion was detected by active finding in bacilliferous, patients with positive culture, pulmonary location and alcoholism. It was lower in HIV (-) and in pediatric cases (under 15 years). Although the proportion of the type of declaration varied depending on the TBU or age, no changes were detected when segregating by TBU or in people over 15 years old. CONCLUSIONS: If active finding wasn't perform, almost half of the cases would be lost. We observed differences in the characteristics of the patients according to the way they have been detected, although we don't know their possible cause. Therefore, the detection of cases by active finding it's an important public health tool.
OBJETIVO: La declaración de enfermedades es una herramienta fundamental en salud pública, imprescindible para conocer la magnitud del problema y poder decidir adecuadamente la manera de resolverlo. La búsqueda activa de casos permite recuperar casos que no fueron registrados mediante la declaración pasiva. En este estudio pretendimos analizar si los casos de tuberculosis (TB) detectados por las Unidades de Tuberculosis (UTB) por búsqueda activa eran equiparables a los declarados de forma pasiva por los profesionales sanitarios o si bien presentaban diferencias. METODOS: Se recogieron los datos del Registro Gallego de Tuberculosis (SITUB), analizando los 2.753 casos de TB detectados entre 2014 y 2018. Se compararon los intervalos de confianza y se analizaron los datos con Ji cuadrado o pruebas T-Student, según fuese requerido. RESULTADOS: El 44,67% de los casos de TB fueron detectados por las UTB mediante búsqueda activa. Se detectó mayor proporción mediante búsqueda activa en bacilíferos, pacientes con cultivo positivo, localización TB pulmonar y alcoholismo, mientras que fue menor en VIH (-) y en casos en edad pediátrica (menores de 15 años). Aunque la proporción del tipo de declaración variaba dependiendo de la UTB o la edad, no se detectaron cambios desagregando por UTB ni al excluir a los menores de 15 años. CONCLUSIONES: De no realizar búsqueda activa, se perderían casi la mitad de los casos. Se observan diferentes características de los pacientes según como hayan sido detectados, aunque no conocemos su posible causa. Por ello, la detección de casos por búsqueda activa es una importante medida de salud pública.
Subject(s)
Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Adolescent , Alcoholism , Child , Health Personnel , Humans , Public Health , Registries , Spain , StudentsABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: La declaración de enfermedades es una herramienta fundamental en salud pública, imprescindible para conocer la magnitud del problema y poder decidir adecuadamente la manera de resolverlo. La búsqueda activa de casos permite recuperar casos que no fueron registrados mediante la declaración pasiva. En este estudio pretendimos analizar si los casos de tuberculosis (TB) detectados por las Unidades de Tuberculosis (UTB) por búsqueda activa eran equiparables a los declarados de forma pasiva por los profesionales sanitarios o si bien presentaban diferencias. MÉTODOS: Se recogieron los datos del Registro Gallego de Tuberculosis (SITUB), analizando los 2.753 casos de TB detectados entre 2014 y 2018. Se compararon los intervalos de confianza y se analizaron los datos con Ji cuadrado o pruebas T-Student, según fuese requerido. RESULTADOS: El 44,67% de los casos de TB fueron detectados por las UTB mediante búsqueda activa. Se detectó mayor proporción mediante búsqueda activa en bacilíferos, pacientes con cultivo positivo, localización TB pulmonar y alcoholismo, mientras que fue menor en VIH (-) y en casos en edad pediátrica (menores de 15 años). Aunque la proporción del tipo de declaración variaba dependiendo de la UTB o la edad, no se detectaron cambios desagregando por UTB ni al excluir a los menores de 15 años. CONCLUSIONES: De no realizar búsqueda activa, se perderían casi la mitad de los casos. Se observan diferentes características de los pacientes según como hayan sido detectados, aunque no conocemos su posible causa. Por ello, la detección de casos por búsqueda activa es una importante medida de salud pública
OBJECTIVE: The diseases' declaration is a fundamental tool in public health. It's essential to know the magnitude of the problem and decide properly how to solve it. The active finding of cases allows us to know cases that weren't registered by means of the passive declaration. In this study, we intend to analyze whether tuberculosis (TB) cases detected by Tuberculosis Units (TBU) by active finding are different to those reported passively by health professionals. METHODS: Data from the Galician Registry of Tuberculosis (SITUB) were collected analyzing the 2,753 TB cases detected between 2014 and 2018. Confidence intervals were compared and the data were analyzed with Chi square or T-Student tests as required. RESULTS: 44.67% of TB cases of were detected by TBU by active finding. A higher proportion was detected by active finding in bacilliferous, patients with positive culture, pulmonary location and alcoholism. It was lower in HIV (-) and in pediatric cases (under 15 years). Although the proportion of the type of declaration varied depending on the TBU or age, no changes were detected when segregating by TBU or in people over 15 years old. CONCLUSIONS: If active finding wasn't perform, almost half of the cases would be lost. We observed differences in the characteristics of the patients according to the way they have been detected, although we don't know their possible cause. Therefore, the detection of cases by active finding it's an important public health tool
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Middle Aged , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Tuberculosis/epidemiology , Disease Notification , Alcoholism , Health Personnel , Public Health , Records , Spain/epidemiology , Students , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Knowledge on the distribution and determinants of tuberculous pleural effusions (TBPE) is incomplete. We aimed to describe the epidemiological trends and individual characteristics of TBPE in Galicia, Spain, over a 10-year period (2000-2009). DESIGN: A retrospective, observational study based on epidemiological data obtained from the Galician Tuberculosis Register. RESULTS: There were 1835 cases of TBPE (16.3% of the total 11,241 TB cases reported). The number and incidence of TBPE decreased significantly during the study period, from (262 and 9.6/100,000 inhabitants in 2000, to 133 and 4.8 in 2009, respectively; P<.001 for both). The mean annual decrease in TBPE incidence was 6.9%, and 50% overall. TBPE mainly affected males (63.5%), precisely 61.2% young males between 15 and 44 years. Twenty-five percent had lung involvement (chest X-ray), and 41.7% had a positive sputum culture. A significant increase (P<.001) was observed during the study in the percentage of patients who had more TB risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of TBPE decreased significantly during the study period, with no changes in epidemiological characteristics, and with trends similar to the total number of TB cases. The introduction of the Galician Prevention and Control Plan (GPCP) for tuberculosis appears to be effective for better control of TB.