Objective To determine of epidemiologic patterns and recent trends of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in West Azerbaijan province of Iran, during 2004–2009.

Material and Methods In this cross-sectional study, we studied the data of 1323 TB new cases that have been recorded by TB Management Center of Vice-chancellor of health affairs in West Azerbaijan province of Iran. National census data of 2006 were used for determining the incidence rates. Cochran-Armitage test was used to analyse the incidence trends.

Results The incidence rate of tuberculosis at this province was declined from 10.16 to 7.85 per 100 000 during 2004–2009. Despite of higher incidence rates in southern regions, its two districts significantly had declined trends in study period (p<0.05). Trends of age-specific incidence rates for both of pulmonary, extrapulmonary, also for male and female cases were increased as χ²=1265; χ²=307.7, p=0.0001 and χ²=931; χ²=582, p=0.0001, respectively. Considering the national tuberculosis standard index, smear positive notification rate was in the range of expected levels (58%–68%), but extrapulmonary incidence rates were more than the expected level.

Conclusion Regarding the higher incidence rates of tuberculosis in the southern regions of West Azerbaijan province of Iran, and despite of declined trends at some of districts at this region, it seems that more control and prevention activities are still needed, especially for the lower socioeconomic populations. Comparison of the demographic, socioeconomic status and specific incidence rates, revealed that the epidemiologic patterns of TB at this province have shifted from developing to developed countries status.