THORACIC RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of diabetes in India has risen from 7.1% in 2009 to 8.9% in 2019. In 2021, among the notified tuberculosis patients, 89% were screened for blood sugar, and out of screened, 8% were found to have diabetes mellitus. Many studies have been conducted to estimate the prevalence of TB in diabetes and vice versa, but limited studies are available on radiological patterns of tuberculosis in diabetes.

METHODOLOGY: We extracted data of 50 tuberculosis patients admitted in Saveetha Medical College and Hospital after satisfying inclusion criteria during the study period (September 2023 to March 2024). Data extracted from electronic medical records included demographic data, clinical history, smear for acid fast bacilli, Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, biochemical analysis of pleural fluid, HbA1c, chest radiographs and then analyzed using SPSS software.

RESULTS: Total number of patients included in a study were 50. During the study period of 7 months, from the hospital medical records, a total of 432 patients were diagnosed to have Tuberculosis (Both pulmonary & extra pulmonary). Out of which 50 patients were diabetics. The number of males were 35 (70%) whereas 66% of the patients were above the age of 50. 

CONCLUSION: Our study showed that 11 % of tuberculosis patients had diabetes mellitus. Lower zone predominant involvement in chest radiograph was seen in 44 %. The most common radiological pattern was lower zone predominant consolidation. Most of them were diagnosed by AFB smear & CBNAAT. Hence microbiological confirmation was the most common method. Almost all the patients had uncontrolled diabetes mellitus underscoring the importance of euglycemic control.