A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SEVERITY OFPULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS AMONG DIBETICS AND NON DIBETICS PATIENTS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Aim: To assess the clinical and radiological profile of pulmonary tuberculosis patientswith and without diabetics in order to understand the various presenting modalities, etiological pattern, severity of TB and clinical-radiological connection of the study population.

Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.

Materials & Methods:This is a hospital based cross sectional study conducted at a tertiary care hospital. We were enrolled total of 100 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and screen them for diabetes militants. To obtain data, a predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used. A clinico-radiological profile of pulmonary tuberculosis between with and without diabetes patients were compared.

Results:We recruited 100 pulmonary tuberculosis patients among them 32% werediabetes and 68% without diabetes.The most common clinical presentation among both with and without diabetes mellitus group was expectoration, it was slightly more common in non-diabetes group (84%) as compared todiabetes (79%). This followed by evening rise in fever which was slightly more common in non-diabetes group (78%) as compared diabetes group (74%).The most common radiological presentation among both with and without diabetes mellitus group was Infiltrations, however, it was more common in diabetes group (90.6%) as compared to non-diabetes group (70.6%). This followed by cavitary which was again more common in diabetesgroup (78.1%) as compared non-diabetesgroup (50%).Most of non-diabetic patients were falling into1+ and 2+ category. In both sample the severity of the disease 3+ was more in diabetes patients than non- diabetes.

Conclusion:Diabetic patients were more likely to get a serious pulmonary infection. More over 40 years of age has more chance of this twin morbidity. Detection and treatment of DM among TBpatients may have a beneficial impact on TB control.