Impact of Nutritional Determinants and Associated Socio-Environmental Factors in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients: An Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: The risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) increases with concurrent nutritional deficiency, of the specific nutrients, social and environmental conditions. PTB, on the other hand, gives rise to both muscle andfat wasting due to loss of appetite and increased catabolic activity. It is also associated with an increased risk of relapse and secondary Multidrug Resistant (MDR) TR Indoor air pollution, smoking and alcohol are well known strong predictors and surprisingly still quite prevalent in rural and urban areas. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out over a period of 06 months in PTB cases, above 15 years of age, attending the DOTS centres in an urban area. Extra PTB cases were excludedfrom the study. The sample size was worked out to be 118. Results: Overcrowding was present in 76 (64.4%) of the respondents, 91 (77.1%) had kitchen within the living rooms and 52 (44.1%) of them used cylinders (LPG) and kerosene oil as the cooking fuel Current smoking was reported by 70 (59.3%) patients, and 44 (37.2%) reported alcohol consumption. Of the 118 respondents, 10 (8.2%) had HIV/AIDS and 31 (26.2%) had Diabetes as co morbidities. Around, 69 (58.5%) of them had low BMI (Thinness), PBFwas low in 83 (70.3%) cases andSMM was low in 80 (72%) cases. Conclusion: Proper dietetic advice, taking into consideration local dietary preferences, may be required to be included in the TB management protocol at the DOTS centre. Indoor air pollution needs to be curbed in our society both in the rural as well in the urban area by empowering the community with better fuel.

Keywords

• Pulmonary Tuberculosis
• Nutritional Deficiency
• Indoor air pollution.