EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS CASES BETWEEN THE YEARS 2018 TO 2022 IN THE METROPOLITAN REGION I OF BELÉM, PARÁ

Abstract

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite being easily preventable and curable, it continues to represent a serious threat to public health. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological data on tuberculosis reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), from 2018 to 2022 in Metropolitan Region I (RM1) in Belém-PA. An observational, ecological, quantitative and descriptive, retrospective epidemiological research was conducted (such as form of the disease, sex, age group, type of entry into the health system, sputum culture results, laboratory confirmation and outcome) collected from Datasus. The data were presented and analyzed using percentage and incidence coefficient. 11,075 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) were reported in RM1, and of these Belém has the following averages, 69.20% of the total notifications with 1,303,403 inhabitants. The disease affected men more, who presented 67.06% of the total cases, than women with a percentage of 32.94%, the age group with the highest percentage was 20 to 29 years old, brown people were the most affected by the disease. Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Belém, a fact that may be related to the barriers encountered in obtaining a PTB diagnosis and because men seem to have greater difficulty adapting to the therapeutic plan. New cases represent an average of 84.10% of notifications. The first sputum smear microscopy is the most used test to diagnose PTB, with an average of 86.82% of tests performed. Directly Observed Treatment (DOT), provided by the SUS, is mandatory, but in Belém there was little adherence with an average 23.65% of cases. Given these results, the need to intensify prevention measures, early diagnosis and adequate treatment of PTB in RM1 is evident, especially in the city of Belém, which has the highest number of PTB notifications. Effective sharing of information about the disease and raising public awareness are essential to contain its spread, and the pharmacist must be the key player in improving the fight against pulmonary tuberculosis.