Abstract: Objective To learn the epidemic characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Chongqing and provide a data support to improve the tuberculosis prevention and control strategy. Methods We got the data of reported PTB patients from Chinese Infectious Disease Report Information System and abstracted population data from Chongqing Statistical Yearbook and The Fifth Census of Chongqing, then the incidence of reported PTB patients was calculated. The numbers of resident population in Chongqing from 2009 to 2013 were 28 390 000 in 2009, 28 590 000 in 2010, 28 846 200 in 2011, 29 190 000 in 2012 and 29 450 000 in 2013 respectively. The cumulative number of population were 73 091 900 in male and 71 374 300 in female. The descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze distribution of PTB from 2009 to 2013. Chi square test was used to analyze the reported incidence rate of PTB patients with different year, different gender and different age, with P<0.05 as the statistical difference. Results The average reported PTB incidence was 88.8/100 000 (128 346/144 466 200), the incidence rates were 96.9/100 000 (27 509/28 390 000) in 2009, 89.9/100 000 (25 702/28 590 000) in 2010, 88.8/100 000 (25 622/28 846 200) in 2011, 85.6/100 000 (24 977/29 190 000) in 2012 and 83.3/100 000 (24 536/29 450 000) in 2013 respectively, which showed a downward trend by year (χ²_trend=347.8, P<0.01).The cases mainly concentra-ted in January and March (accounted for 21.3%, (13 738+13 617)/128 346). Epidemic situation of PTB in different regions was uneven, the top five regions were Pengshui county (161.7/100 000, 4352/2 690 600), Chengkou county (156.2/100 000, 1489/953 300), Qianjiang district (152.7/100 000, 3382/2 214 900), Wuxi county (142.9/100 000, 3008/2 104 900) and Wulong county (141.3/100 000, 2455/1 737 900). The incidence rate in male (124.7/100 000, 91 173/73 091 900) was higher than in female (52.1/100 000, 37 173/71 374 300)(χ²=21 476.1, P<0.01). There was a statistical difference between different age groups in reported incidence (χ²=12 639.5, P<0.01), peaked in 75- age group (179.2/100 000, 774/431 918). Most cases in all occupations was farmer (accounted for 55.9%, 71 791/128 346). Conclusion The PTB epidemic in Chongqing has steadily declined in recent years. As the epidemic situation of PTB in different area of different demographic characteristics is imbalance, we need to improve control strategy according to the actual situation to control the epidemic of PTB better.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/epidemiology, Incidence, Chongqing city