From January 2008 to December 2015, the National Tuberculosis Information Management System reported 93383 new smear positive patients in Heilongjiang province. By descriptive statistical analysis, the epidemiological characteristics of these newly registered smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in the 13 prefecture-level cities (districts) during the 8 years were analyzed, including average incidence rate, gender, age, and occupation distribution.

(1) From 2008 to 2015, the average annual reported incidence rate was 30.25/100000 (93383/308700000). (2) Among the newly registered smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Heilongjiang province from 2008 to 2015, the male registered incidence was 42.62/100000 (66537/156100000), whereas the female registered incidence was 17.59/100000 (26846/152580000); there was significant difference (χ ²=6086.28, P<0.05). (3) The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis increased with age. Majority patients were in the 35-44 years old (20.78%, 19405/93383) and 45-54 years old (23.28%, 21741/93383) age group. The difference among age groups was statistically significant ( {\chi }_{\mathrm{trend}}^2 =46828.26, P<0.05). (4) Farmer was the most common occupation of patients, accounting for 46.58% (43500/93383) of the total registered incidence; followed by domestic worker, house worker and job seeker, accounting for 28.67% (26771/93383).

The statistical results of newly registered smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Heilongjiang during 2008-2015 showed that the elderly (aged from 35 to 54 years), male and farmer are the key targets in the future tuberculosis prevention and control work.