The National Tuberculosis Control Plan aims to diagnosis at least 92% of expected cases and the successful treatment of 85% of cases of tuberculosis. Information on diagnosed cases and outcome is essential to know if the Plan has been followed. This study aims to verify if patients that died of tuberculosis were underreported. This is a descriptive study that searched the National Surveillance Diseases System - Sinan for secondary data on tuberculosis cases that led to death between 1999 and 2003 and that were registered in the Mortality Information System - SIM of Fortaleza (Northeastern Brazilian city). Variables for comparison were names, dates of birth and mothers' names. Of all registered deaths, 610 had tuberculosis as one of the causes and 204 (33.4%) were found in Sinan. Rescuing these 406 cases result in a 5.9% increase in total tuberculosis cases reported in Sinan. Sinan registered 153 tuberculosis cases that resulted in death, and an additional reporting of 406 cases increases cases that resulted in death by 265.4%. Tuberculosis was the basic cause in 438 (71.8%). Reported cases varied from 39% in 2001 to 19% in 2003 (p=0.03). Three hundred and twenty-four (53.1%) deaths occurred in five hospitals that led to 114 (55.9%) cases reported. Tuberculosis cases that resulted in death were underreported and SIM was an important source of rescuing severe cases and should be used more frequently.
Tuberculosis; Epidemiologic surveillance; Health Systems information; Mortality
