Objective   To analyze the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Inner Mongolia autonomous region from 2017 to 2020, indentify the areas with high-incidence of pulmonary TB, and provide a theoretical basis for the development of TB prevention and control policies.

  Methods   The registration data of pulmonary TB patients in 105 banners (county, district) in Inner Mongolia from 2017 to 2020 were collected, and combined with the electronic map of Vectorized provincial boundaries of China, the trend, spatial autocorrelation and spatiotemporal scanning analysis were conducted to identify the spatial clustering of pulmonary TB.

  Results   From 2017 to 2020, the average annual pulmonary TB registration rate in Inner Mongolia was 42.35/100 000. The results of three-dimensional trend analysis showed that the annual pulmonary TB registration rate in Inner Mongolia from 2017 to 2020 increased firstly in northern area, then in southern area and then gradually decreased, showing a U-shaped distribution from east to west. Spatial autocorrelation results showed that there was a positive spatial correlation between pulmonary TB registration rates in Inner Mongolia in 2017, 2019 and 2020, the values of Moran's I were 0.256, 0.314 and 0.339 (P<0.05), respectively. During 2017−2020, H–H clustering was in Hulunbuir (P<0.05); The spatiotemporal scanning results showed that there were 7 clustering areas covering 36 banners (county, district). The first type of clustering area covered 14 banners (county, district) with Horqin right front banner as the center in the eastern Inner Mongolia, and the clustering time was 2017−2018.

  Conclusion   In 2017, 2019 and 2020, the pulmonary TB registration in Inner Mongolia had spatiotemporal clustering, and the clustering area was mainly in eastern Inner Mongolia, so the prevention and control of pulmonary TB in the eastern area should be strengthened.