Social and epidemiologic features were studied in 1145 newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Yakutia who were on the dispensary record in the period between 1981 and 1990. Among the negative social and hygienic factors which aggravated the course of tuberculosis were unsatisfactory living and domestic conditions, failure in family life, unskilled hard labour, idle life, stay in the penitentiary-labour establishments and chronic alcoholism. To improve the effectiveness of dispensary follow-up and treatment of this category of patients measures should be taken aimed at the centralized epidemiologic control. They include, registration of copious bacilli excretors as a special contingent of antituberculosis dispensaries, active measures directed against drug addiction and removal of the unfavourable psychologic factors as well as obligatory hospitalization of patients into specialized tuberculosis centres.