Tuberculosis in Canada 1996

The annual reports on tuberculosis morbidity and mortality have undergone and will continue to have revisions in format and content over the years in response to changes in the epidemiology and treatment of tuberculosis. Changes to the report this year include inclusion of graphical figures, incidence rates by Canadian-born origin and Foreign-born birthplace, main diagnostic site (using a hierarchy), and reformatting of tables and overall layout. The term "reactivated" has been replaced by "relapsed", the new accepted term in Canada.

Prior to 1966, the reports focused on the characteristics of patients hospitalized in tuberculosis institutions.  However, with the discovery and development of new antituberculosis drugs, more and more persons with active tuberculosis were treated as outpatients.  Statistics on these patients were then included in annual reports.

To reflect the continuing decrease in institutional treatment, the reports began in 1975 to combine previously separate data on inpatients and outpatients.  From 1976 onward, data on facilities and services in tuberculosis institutions were no longer included; since then, reports have presented data on all reported cases of tuberculosis in the population, irrespective of where treatment occurs.

Starting with the 1977 data year, reports were developed cooperatively by Statistics Canada, the Canadian Lung Association and provincial and territorial offices of tuberculosis control, and contained information essential for the surveillance and control of tuberculosis in Canada.

As a result of a review of the tuberculosis reporting system conducted in 1989 jointly by provincial and territorial Directors of Tuberculosis Control, Health Canada and Statistics Canada, reporting forms were revised for the 1990 data year to include additional information relevant to tuberculosis prevention and control.  The principal changes include information on the number of persons with tuberculosis who reside in long-term care facilities, the method of case detection used, chest X-ray results, aboriginal and foreign-born persons with tuberculosis and, for deceased persons, information on cause and date of death (see reporting form in Appendix 2).

The report format was revised in 1990 to include tables with the new information, together with much of the information previously published separately in supplementary reports.

FIGURES

Figure 1 Reported New Active and Relapsed Tuberculosis Incidence Rate per 100,000 - Canada: 1924-1996

 

Figure 2 Reported New Active and Relapsed Tuberculosis Cases and Incidence Rate per 100,000 - Canada: 1980-1996

 

Figure 3 Reported New Active and Relapsed Tuberculosis Incidence Rate per 100,000 by Age Group - Canada: 1980-1996

 

Figure 4 Distribution of New Active and Relapsed Tuberculosis Cases by Origin - Canada: 1980 and 1996

 

Figure 5 Reported New Active and Relapsed Tuberculosis Incidence Rate per 100,000 by Main Diagnostic Site - Canada: 1985-1996

 

Figure 6 Distribution of New Active and Relapsed Tuberculosis Cases by Origin - Provinces/Territories: 1996

 

Figure 7 Reported New Active and Relapsed Tuberculosis Cases by Age Group and Origin - Canada: 1996 (n=1,849)

Figure 8 Distribution of New Active and Relapsed Tuberculosis Cases by Origin and Main Diagnostic Site - Canada: 1996 (n=1,849)

HOW TO REACH US

For more information, copies of this report or other related reports, please contact:

        Tuberculosis Prevention and Control
        Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control
        Public Health Agency of Canada
        Health Canada
        Room 0108B, Brooke Claxton Building
        Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9

        Internal Postal Address: 0900B-1

        Telephone:     (613) 941-0238
        Facsimile:     (613) 946-3902

The following figures, tables and explanatory text were prepared by:

        Penny Nault
        Tuberculosis Database Manager
        Tuberculosis Prevention and Control

        Melissa Phypers, MSc
        Acting Chief
        Tuberculosis Prevention and Control

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors would like to acknowledge the Provincial/Territorial Tuberculosis Programs and their teams for their contribution to and participation in the Canadian Tuberculosis Reporting System (CTBRS).

The authors would also like to thank the Scientific Publication and Multimedia Services Unit, Public Health Agency of Canada, for its assistance in preparing this report.

Published by authority of the Minister of Health

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada 2002

This publication can be made available in alternative formats upon request.