The Epidemiological Aspects of Tuberculosis in Hamadan Province during ۲۰۰۵–۱۱

Background Epidemiological information on tuberculosis (TB) is required to plan control and prevention strategies and to inform service delivery systems. The aim of present study was to determine the epidemiological status of TB in Hamadan Province covering a seven-year period.   Methods In this cross-sectional study all registered TB patients suffering from any form of smear-positive, smear-negative or extra pulmonary from ۲۰۰۵ to ۲۰۱۱ were assessed. Age-adjusted incidence trend was studied. The Cochran-Armitage (C-A) test was used for testing the trends over time.   Results The mean age of TB patients was ۵۷.۰ (±۲۱.۱), ۴۹.۹% were males, ۵۲.۸% were aged ۶۱ years or older and ۳۹.۷% were rural residents. Previous history of jailed was present in ۱۳ (۲.۲%) patients and ۱۲ (۲.۰%) were HIV positive. From all TB patients, ۶۰.۸% were smear-positive, ۸۷.۶% were new cases, and ۸۷.۳% of smear-positive patients were cured cases. Also, ۲۳.۶% patients had history of hospitalization for TB. More than half (۵۵.۴%) of TB patients were reported by public health system. Age-adjusted incidence rates of all TB cases during ۲۰۰۵–۱۱ was ۳.۴, ۳.۲, ۳.۶, ۴.۷, ۳.۳, ۴.۴ and ۷.۳ in ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ respectively (C-A trend test, P< ۰.۰۰۱).   Conclusion Although, the incidence rate of TB in Hamadan Province is lower than country’s average, increasing trend of TB incidence is not concordant with its decreasing trend in Iran. An epidemiological study is required to evaluate risk factors associated with TB to identify ways to decrease the prevalence of TB.

Keywords:

Tuberculosis (TB) , Incidence , Epidemiology , Iran