科研之友
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摘要
objective: to evaluate the level of access to health care clinics of a population of patients hospitalized for tuberculosis (tb) at two hospitals in the city of sˋo paulo, brazil, comparing them with a population of tb patients under outpatient treatment only. methods: we compiled sociodemographic, clinical and epidemiological data related to patients hospitalized for tb at two hospitals in the city of sˋo paulo, brazil, between january and december of 2007, using a structured questionnaire. we also identified the outpatient clinics to which the patients were referred at discharge. the same variables were evaluated for tb outpatients during the same period, using a database. results: the study sample consisted of 474 patients (166 inpatients and 308 outpatients: mean age, 41.0 and 39.1 years, respectively). the univariate analysis showed positive associations between hospitalization due to tb and the following variables: 30-39 year age bracket (or = 2.17); 50-59 year age bracket (or = 2.17); combination of pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms of tb (or = 5.31); tb re-treatment (or = 2.66); seeking treatment at other health care facilities prior to the diagnosis of tb (or = 2.05); symptom duration of more than 12 weeks (or = 2.23); and tb diagnosed at hospitals or in emergency rooms (or = 4.68). the proportion of inpatients who resided in the same regional health district area as that in which the respective hospital was located was 77.6% and 36.8%. the proportion of discharged patients who were referred to outpatient clinics in the same areas was 67.1% and 39.7%, respectively. conclusions: patients hospitalized for tb should be monitored from discharge until their admission to the outpatient clinic.
