Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Individuals with diabetes are vulnerable to a weakened immune response, increasing the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), particularly in low- to middle-income countries like Pakistan with prevalent poverty and unsanitary conditions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T2DM in Pulmonary TB patients. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Primary Health Care (PHC) Center in Sikandar Abad and private clinics in Hyderabad, Pakistan. A total of 200 individuals, irrespective of age and gender, diagnosed with primary pulmonary tuberculosis and undergoing either first-line or second-line therapy, were recruited during a period of six months from 1st April 2022 to 30th September 2022 through simple random sampling. All TB patients were screened for Diabetes. The collection of relevant information, including demographic and clinical details, was executed using a standardized study proforma. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, allowing for statistical exploration and interpretation of the findings. Results: Prevalence of DM in TB patients was (38%) 19. The average age of the participants was 36.6+14.8 years. The computed BMI of 17.14+2.9kg/m2 revealed that the majority of the patients were underweight. Weight loss was the symptom that co-occurred with TB and DM. Conclusion: Study revealed a notable 38% prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) among Pulmonary TB patients, indicating a risk of co-occurrence. This co-morbidity poses an important public health concern, emphasizing the importance of understanding the interplay between these two conditions.