TUBERCULOSIS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON: ANALYSIS OF THE CLINICAL-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS FOLLOWED AT A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER IN THE STATE OF PARÁ

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, and diagnostic profile and temporal distribution of tuberculosis cases followed at the Marco School Health Center in Belém, Pará, from January 2020 to January 2025. A quantitative, descriptive, retrospective, single-center study was conducted using secondary data from medical records and notification forms. A total of 131 patients were included. Most were male (56.5%), aged 21–40 years (35.1%), and self-identified as mixed race (62.6%). New cases accounted for 90.1% of the sample, and pulmonary tuberculosis was the predominant clinical form (78.6%). Among patients with extrapulmonary involvement, pleural tuberculosis was the most frequent form (59.26%). Smear microscopy alone was the most frequently recorded method of laboratory confirmation (41.9%), and 22.1% of patients initiated treatment without laboratory confirmation. The most frequent clinical manifestations were cough (61.8%), fever (52.6%), dyspnea (50.3%), and weight loss (47.3%). Analysis of laboratory parameters revealed a relevant proportion of missing information in medical records. The second quarter accounted for the highest proportion of notifications (35.0%); however, no significant difference was observed in case distribution among quarters (p = 0.9866). The findings show a predominance of new cases and pulmonary tuberculosis, with an epidemiological profile similar to that reported in local and national studies. The frequent use of smear microscopy alone and incomplete laboratory records are relevant aspects for assessing the diagnostic process and the quality of information in Primary Health Care.