Epidemiological aspects of pleural tuberculosis in the state of São Paulo, Brazil (1998-2005).

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of and trends regarding the incidence of pleural TB. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study of TB cases reported between 1998 and 2005 and compiled from the Epidemiological Surveillance Tuberculosis System (Epi-TB database). RESULTS: A total of 144,347 new cases of TB were reported during the period studied. Pulmonary TB was the predominant form (118,575 cases; 82.2%). Among the extrapulmonary forms (25,773 cases; 17.8%), pleural TB was the form most often reported (12,545 cases; 48.7%). For all forms, the incidence (per 100,000 population) decreased (from 49.7 in 1998 to 44.6 in 2005; R(2) = 0.898; p < 0.001), whereas the incidence of pleural TB remained stable (4.1 in 1998 and 3.8 in 2005; R(2) = 0.433; p = 0.076). The highest incidence of pleural TB was found among males (2:1) aged from 30 to 59 years. Of the 12,545 patients with pleural TB, 4,018 (32.0%) presented comorbidities: alcoholism (9.5%); HIV (8.0%); diabetes (3.3%); and mental illness (1.2%). The diagnosis was based on bacteriological (14.2%) and histological (30.2%) methods, as well as on unspecified methods (55.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Pleural TB was the predominant extrapulmonary form of TB in the state of São Paulo, with a stable incidence between 1998 and 2005, although there was a trend toward a decrease in the incidence of the pulmonary forms. The diagnosis of pleural TB was confirmed through histology and bacteriology in 44.4% of the cases.

Aspectos epidemiológicos da tuberculose pleural no estado de São Paulo (1998-2005) / Epidemiological aspects of pleural tuberculosis in the state of São Paulo, Brazil (1998-2005)

OBJETIVO: Analisar as características epidemiológicas e tendências quanto à incidência de TB pleural. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo dos casos de TB reportados entre 1998 e 2005 e coletados do banco de dados do Sistema de Notificação de Tuberculose (Epi-TB) da Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo. RESULTADOS: Foram notificados 144.347 casos novos de TB durante o período estudado. A forma pulmonar foi predominante (118.575 casos; 82,2 por cento). Das formas extrapulmonares (25.773 casos; 17,8 por cento), a pleural foi a mais referida (12.545 casos; 48,7 por cento). A incidência (por 100.000 habitantes) de todas as formas diminuiu, (49,7 em 1998 e 44,6 em 2005; R² = 0,898; p < 0,001), enquanto a incidência de TB pleural permaneceu estável (4,1 em 1998 e 3,8 em 2005; R² = 0,433; p = 0,076). A maior incidência de TB pleural ocorreu em pacientes do sexo masculino (2:1) entre 30 e 59 anos de idade. Dos 12.545 pacientes com TB pleural, 4.018 (32,0 por cento) apresentaram comorbidades: alcoolismo (9,5 por cento); HIV (8,0 por cento); diabetes (3,3 por cento); e doença mental (1,2 por cento). O diagnóstico referido fundamentou-se em métodos bacteriológicos (14,2 por cento) e histológicos (30,2 por cento), assim como outros não especificados (55,6 por cento). CONCLUSÕES: No estado de São Paulo, a TB pleural foi a forma extrapulmonar predominante, apresentando incidência estável no período entre 1998 e 2005, apesar da tendência de diminuição das formas pulmonares. A histologia e a bacteriologia definiram o diagnóstico em 44,4 por cento dos casos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of and trends regarding the incidence of pleural TB. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study of TB cases reported between 1998 and 2005 and compiled from the Epidemiological Surveillance Tuberculosis System (Epi-TB database). RESULTS: A total of 144,347 new cases of TB were reported during the period studied. Pulmonary TB was the predominant form (118,575 cases; 82.2 percent). Among the extrapulmonary forms (25,773 cases; 17.8 percent), pleural TB was the form most often reported (12,545 cases; 48.7 percent). For all forms, the incidence (per 100,000 population) decreased (from 49.7 in 1998 to 44.6 in 2005; R² = 0.898; p < 0.001), whereas the incidence of pleural TB remained stable (4.1 in 1998 and 3.8 in 2005; R² = 0.433; p = 0.076). The highest incidence of pleural TB was found among males (2:1) aged from 30 to 59 years. Of the 12,545 patients with pleural TB, 4,018 (32.0 percent) presented comorbidities: alcoholism (9.5 percent); HIV (8.0 percent); diabetes (3.3 percent); and mental illness (1.2 percent). The diagnosis was based on bacteriological (14.2 percent) and histological (30.2 percent) methods, as well as on unspecified methods (55.6 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Pleural TB was the predominant extrapulmonary form of TB in the state of São Paulo, with a stable incidence between 1998 and 2005, although there was a trend toward a decrease in the incidence of the pulmonary forms. The diagnosis of pleural TB was confirmed through histology and bacteriology in 44.4 percent of the cases.