Abstract:

Objective To analyze the referral and tracking of tuberculosis and suspected patients in Heilongjiang Province’s non-tuberculosis control institutions (referred to as “non-TB institutions”) from 2009 to 2017, and provide evidence for the government to formulate relevant prevention and control policies.Methods A total of 230913 cases of tuberculosis and suspected patients were reported by the non-TB institutions in the Heilongjiang Provincial Tuberculosis Management Information System from 2009 to 2017. The χ ² test was performed on referral and location data of all patients, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results From 2009 to 2017, the rate of referral of tuberculosis and suspected patients reported by Heilongjiang Province’s non-TB institutions was 46.61% (107640/230913), and the fluctuation in 9 years was 42.98% (8698/20239) to 48.53% (13020/26828) (χ ²=240.631, P=0.000); the tracking rate was 91.34% (109947/120376), showing an increasing trend year by year (89.37% (12109/13550) to 93.45% (11463/12267)) (χ ²=289.624, P=0.000); the overall occupancy rate was 95.48% (220484/230913), showing an upward trend (94.34% (28069/29752) to 96.69% (23520/24324)) (χ ²=296.607, P=0.000), and stable at around 95%; the total number of tuberculosis and suspected patients in the province reached 95.48% (220484/230913), of which patients diagnosed with active tuberculosis accounted for 60.92% (134310/220484), the diagnosis rate of patients in the 9-year period increased year by year (56.60% (15888/28069) to 67.50% (15877/23520)) (χ ²=1433.560, P=0.000); 18.15% (40026/220484) patients were diagnosed with smear-positive tuberculosis, and showed a downward trend year by year (11.14% (2145/19263) to 24.68% (6493/26305)) (χ ²=2713.209, P=0.000); the overall contribution rate of tuberculosis patients to active pulmonary tuberculosis patients in the province was 45.47% (134310/295367); the overall contribution rate to smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients was 39.73% (40026/100752).Conclusion The non-TB institutions of Heilongjiang Province reported that the overall rate of tuberculosis patients reached the target of more than 95%. The reported diagnosis rate of patients increased year by year and became the main source of patient discovery. However, there are still some problems, such as low referral rate, and the proportion of reported smear positive patients decreased year by year.

Key words: Tuberculosis,pulmonary, Patient referral, Patient care management, Data description,statistical