Comparison of the characteristics of tuberculosis cases detected by tuberculosis units by active finding and those declared passively by health professionals. Galicia 2014-2018

Abstract

Background: 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.