Abdul Khalid, Tariq Baqai, Murtaza Bukhari, Mohammad Mateen Khan.
Comparison of the Incidence of tuberculosis in different geographical zones in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pak J Chest Med Jan ;19(1):22-7.

Introduction: This study was conducted to see the disease pattern of tuberculosis in two different geographical and climate zones of the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Objectives: To study and compare the incidence of tuberculosis in northern and southern districts of State of AJK. To identify vulnerable section of the population according to gender. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences Muzaffarabad. The data was collected from 60 TB centers of AJK for three years from 2009 to 2011 and evaluated. Results: Incidence of tuberculosis was higher in the northern districts of the State. The maximum disease burden was in northern districts of Hatian Bala (151/100,000), Muzaffarabad (147/100,000) and Neelum (136/100,000). In southern districts, in 2011 it was 107/100,000 in Kotli, 101/100,000 in Bhimber and 98/100,000 in Mirpur districts .The average incidence in the northern districts in 2011 was 144.6/100,000 as compared with 102/100,000 in the southern districts. There was a steady decline in the incidence of tuberculosis from northern to southern districts as terrain changes from high mountains to relatively plain areas. Tuberculosis is a female predominant disease in the State of AJK. The maximum numbers of 2365 female patients were recorded in 2010 which accounted for 52 % of all tuberculous patients. The percentage of female patients from 2009 to 2011 was 50 %, 52%, and 51 % respectively. The maximum number of female patients in one district was 558 in 2009 in Muzaffarabad. The overall female predominance is due to more patients in northern districts of the State. In the most northern district of Neelum 71 % were female patients in 2010. Conclusion: Tuberculosis is more common in the northern districts of State with cold climate. There is female predominance of disease in the State.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com