Factors associated with post-mortem notification of tuberculosis cases in Brazil, 2014

Abstract

Abstract: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.6 million deaths and 10.6 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) were reported worldwide in 2021. If treated opportunely with the recommended therapy, 85% of patients with TB are healed. The occurrence of death from TB without prior notification of the disease indicates failure in the timely access to this effective treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to identify TB cases with post-mortem notification in Brazil. This is a nested case-control study using a cohort of new TB cases reported to the Braziliam Information System for Notificable Diseases (SINAN). This study analyzed the following variables: selected characteristics of the individual (gender, age, race/color, education), the municipality (Municipality Human Development Index - M-HDI, poverty rate, size, region, and municipality), health services, and underlying or associated cause of death. Logistic regression was estimated using a hierarchical analysis model. People with TB aged 60 years or older (OR = 1.43), with low educational level (OR = 1.67), and with malnutrition (OR = 5.54), living in municipalities with low M-HDI and medium population size (OR = 1.26), located in the North Region of Brazil (OR = 2.42) had a higher chance of post-mortem notification. Protective factors were HIV-TB coinfection (OR = 0.75), malignant neoplasms (OR = 0.62), and living in cities with broad primary care coverage (OR = 0.79). Vulnerable populations should be prioritized in order to address the obstacles to the access to TB diagnosis and treatment in Brazil.