Tuberculosis incidence, hospitalisation prevalence and mortality in Lazio, Italy, 1997-2003.

SETTING

Lazio region (5.15 million, including Rome, 2.8 million), Italy.

OBJECTIVE

To monitor pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology from 1997 to 2003.

DESIGN

We used data from the mandatory National Infectious Diseases Surveillance system, the regional Hospital Information System and the regional Mortality Register. The number of prevalent pulmonary TB cases hospitalised was determined by linking notifications and hospitalisations. To estimate incidence, we excluded all cases with previous TB hospitalisations since 1995, and those reported as a secondary diagnosis in the Hospital Information System. Mortality rates were ascertained from mortality records reporting TB as the principal cause of death.

RESULTS

The record linkage identified 4885 incident cases, 9010 hospital prevalent cases and 217 deaths. Incidence decreased from 15/100000 in 1997 to 11 in 2003, and consistent decreases were also observed in hospitalisation prevalence and mortality (P for trend <0.0005, <0.0005 and =0.063, respectively). The number of AIDS-related TB cases dropped from 85 to 49 (P < 0.0005). The number of incident cases in non-Italians increased significantly, from 171 to 267 (P < 0.0005). Notification underreporting was estimated at 39%.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a decreasing trend, TB incidence is still over 10/100000 in Lazio region. Targeted interventions for immigrant populations are essential for controlling TB.