[Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Galicia]

To know the real incidence of tuberculosis in Galicia and its epidemiological characteristics.

Study of data recorded in the "Galician Programme for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention", where an active epidemiological survey of every diagnosis of tuberculosis is carried out in every part of Galicia.

1995 cases were included in this study, with an incidence of 72.7/100,000 inhabitants. 58% of the cases were detected by the epidemiological survey. 92% of the cases were newly diagnosed cases, being the remain relapses. The highest incidence were localized in the areas of A Coruña and Vigo. The mean age was 40.5 years with 57% being between 15 and 44 years. Male incidence was 92.8/100,000 and female incidence was 54.0/100,000 (RR = 1.72; CI 95%: 1.57-1.88). 18.1% of the patients had at least one of the following risk factors associated: HIV infection (9.1%), alcoholism (8.4%) or injecting drug use (7.3%). Other risk factors for tuberculosis were very unusual. Pulmonary localization was the most frequent form with 1389 cases (incidence: 50.6/100,000). 742 patients were considered to be bacilliferous (incidence: 27/100,000).

The incidence of tuberculosis in Galicia is high. Its epidemiological characteristics suggest a historical lack of measures of tuberculosis control.