Deaths from tuberculosis among permanent residents of Toruń in the years 1990-1993

The aim of this was to verify the cases of death from tuberculosis (TB) in Toruń province in the years 1990-1993. The data of the official register of death were compared, with the hospital records and with the autopsy reports. Tuberculosis was accepted as the cause of death in all patients treated for sputum positive tuberculosis and also in those in whom pathological proof of tuberculosis existed. In addition tuberculosis was accepted as the cause of death in patients in whom no bacteriological examination was done, but who were tuberculosis contacts and who had the radiological picture of the lung compatible with tuberculosis. Those patients were admitted to the hospital in terminal state and the permission for autopsy was refused. Tuberculosis was excluded as the cause of death in those who were treated for tuberculosis but were considered cured and also in those in whom a proof of other severe disease existed. 72 cases of tuberculosis death were officially registered in the above-mentioned time. In 23 of those 72 causes tuberculosis was excluded. On the other hand 26 patients who died of tuberculosis were officially registered as death from other causes. After verification we have found that 75 patients died of tuberculosis. Thus the real number of death from tuberculosis was similar to the registered one although the errors in registered deaths from tuberculosis are in two directions.