Assessment of Nutritional Status of Sputum Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in a Medical College

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) has been understood as a disease of wasting since it causes significant deficiencies in nearlyevery nutritional marker.Aims and Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the nutritional status of patients of sputum positive pulmonary TBpatients and to identify the factors if malnutrition is present.Materials and Methods: Two hundred patients of sputum positive for pulmonary TB were selected in a medical college on anoutpatient service basis. The most common nutritional and biochemical assessment was done by blood hemoglobin and serumalbumin level. All other relevant parameters were also recorded.Results: About 10.5% of patients of severe anemia, 20% of patients of moderate anemia, and 35.5% of patients of mild anemiawere found. About 12.5% cases of severe albumin deficiency (<2 g/dl), 24.5% cases of moderate albumin deficiency (≤2.5 g/dl),and 37% cases of mild albumin deficiency (≤3 g/dl) were also noted. There was a significant correlation between decreasecalorie intake and decrease albumin levels. In the rural population, there were 79.16% malnourished in <20 years age group.Male preponderance (66%) was noted with malefemale ratio of 21. About 86.5% of the patients were illiterate. About 87% ofpatients belong to lower social class. About 37% of cases were smoker and out of these smokers, 71% were malnourished.About 35% of cases were alcoholic and out of these alcoholic, 71% were malnourished.Conclusion: Sputum positive TB patients have poor nutritional status. Malnutrition is found in individuals with factors of ruralbackground, male patients, poor literary status, low family income, smoking, and alcohol addiction.