Objective:

To describe the characteristics of the population with tuberculosis (TB), over the age of 18, without HIV infection in Uruguay in the period between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2017.

Methods:

Data of TB cases confirmed by sputum culture between 1/1/16 and 12/31/17 was obtained from the anonymized data base of the national register of TB, which belongs to CHLA-EP. Individuals younger than 18 or with HIV infection were excluded. Patients included in this study were organized in two groups according to the following criteria: belonging to public health care and belonging to private health care. Frequency and proportion of different variables

related to TB were analyzed in those groups.

Results:

1129 cases were analyzed. The incidence rate of TB amongst the population of non-HIV uruguayans over the age of 18 was 21.8 per 100,000 in 2016. Risk factors related to socioeconomic status were observed in a proportion of 43.8% of the total population; these were more prevalent within the subpopulation that received public health care, with a proportion of 57.4%. Loss of follow-up for the public health care sector was seen in 12.8% of cases, while

the private sector presented 3.0%. The percentage of death among the unemployed was of 38.8%.

Conclusion:

Socioeconomic risk factors were predominantly superior among patients belonging to public health services. Moreover, unemployment was the most frequent factor within that category, and those who presented this factor had higher percentage of death and loss of follow up as the final outcome of treatment, compared to the general population. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most frequent clinical form, followed by tuberculosis pleurisy as the main form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis.

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