Spatial analysis studies of endemic diseases for health surveillance: Application of scan statistics for surveillance of tuberculosis among residents of a metropolitan municipality aged 60 years and above

Health surveillance aims to monitor adverse health events, and to set disease prevention and control goals, especially for communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB). Older people have a higher risk of TB, due to their specific characteristics, which predispose them to infectious disease. Thus, the objective of this study was to demonstrate the importance of scan statistics for detecting spatiotemporal clusters of TB. We conducted a quantitative is an ecological, descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, using the spatial analysis techniques, specifically scan statistics. The study was conducted in the municipality of Belem, Para, in Brazil using data on 1,134 new cases of TB diagnosed in individuals aged >= 60 years from 2011 to 2015. The data were analyzed using SaTScan software. The analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of TB in the municipality showed that the high-risk areas included the most densely populated neighborhoods, highlighting the priority of the seareas for disease control measures. Spatial analysis can be used to guide more effective interventions according to the characteristics of the location and the local population.