Predictive factors of death in patients with tuberculosis: a nested case-control study

Tuberculosis is one of the main causes of death worldwide. This study aimed to determine predictive factors for death in patients with tuberculosis to set priorities for public heath interventions to reduce mortality in these patients. This nested case-control study was carried out in Mazandaran province of Islamic Republic of Iran among tuberculosis patients who were treated during 2002-2009. Each deceased patient was individually matched with a control patient according to sex, age, area of involvement and time of follow-up. Potential risk factors for death were evaluated using multivariate conditional logistic regression models. From 2206 patients 376 cases and 376 matched controls were selected. Only positive serology for HIV [OR = 19.1], history of kidney disease [OR = 6.81] and use of immunosuppressant drugs [OR = 3.96] significantly increased the risk of death in tuberculosis patients. These potentially modifiable risk factors could be taken into account in preventive interventions for tuberculosis patients in our country

[Epidemiological pattern of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in Mazandaran Province, Iran [2001-11]]

Due to the increase of incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Iran, This study was conducted to determine the epidemiological pattern of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in the Mazandaran province, northern Iran. This descriptive-analytic study was carried out on medical record of 3313 tuberculosis patients in Mazandaran province, northern Iran during 2001-11. Age, gender, affected year, area and affected organ were gathered for each patient. 843 [25.4%] of subjects were diagnosed with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis increased by 4% for every unit increase in incidence year [P<0.05]. The mean age of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis was significantly less than patients with pulmonary tuberculosis [42.8 +/- 20.6 years vs. 48.7 +/- 21.2, P<0.05]. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis was significantly higher in women [P<0.05]. The chance of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in women was 1.7 times of men. Lymph node [33%] was the most common affected organ followed by pleura [18.9%] and bone [17.7%]. The trend of incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis was ascending during 2001 to 2011. The most affected organ in extra pulmonary tuberculosis was lymph nodes