Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in hospitalized patients

Abstract

Author(s): Hadel Kareem. AL-Rubaiawi*, Raid J. Mohamed and Sajid H. Alhelfy

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death from infectious diseases globally, spreading through air and aerosols. This study aimed to determine the frequency and epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pulmonary TB in hospitalized patients in Zanjan, Iran, from 2013 to 2022. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed records of pulmonary TB patients hospitalized between 2013 and 2022 at a tertiary hospital in Zanjan, Iran. Data on patient history, symptoms, laboratory tests, and imaging were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS 24.0, with p<0.05 being considered statistically significant. Results: Among 143 patients, 51.7% were female. Common symptoms included cough (88.8%), dyspnea (86.7%), and sputum production (76.9%). Other symptoms were weakness, anorexia, hemoptysis, weight loss, night sweats, epigastric pain, orthopnea, wheezing, and lymphadenopathy. Pathological findings appeared in 84.6% of chest radiographs. Radiographic findings included consolidation, ground-glass opacity, nodules, pleural effusion, lymph node calcification, cavities, and more. Underlying diseases were present in 64.3% of patients, notably COPD (37.1%), previous TB (27.3%), and hypertension (26.6%). Positive TST results were found in 30% of cases, with 27.3% having at least 2 positive sputum smears, 27.3% positive sputum cultures, and 3.5% positive sputum PCR. Household TB contact was reported in 3.5% of cases. Among patients with a positive habit history, 44.1% reported smoking, opioid, alcohol use, and bread baking. Elevated ESR/CRP levels were common. Conclusion: Rapid TB diagnosis is challenging. Any clinical or radiological signs suggestive of TB should prompt its consideration until definitively ruled out.

Share this article