Salman Khazaei - Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Ghodratollah Roshanaei - Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Mohammad Saatchi - Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Shahab Rezaeian - Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Ali Zahiri - Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Deputy of Health Services, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Seyyed Jalal Bathaei - Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Deputy of Health Services, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

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.

Tuberculosis (TB), Incidence, Epidemiology, Iran