Association of socio-demographic profile with types of tuberculosis among patients attending a rural DOTS centre in central Kerala, South India

ABSTRACT

Background:Re-evaluation of the epidemiological profile of tuberculosis (TB) patients can help to eliminate the number of cases. This study was aimed to analyse the association of socio-demographic profile with type of TB among patients attending a rural DOTS centrein central Kerala.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among TB patients at a rural DOTS clinic in central Kerala during January 2020-June 2021. Various socio-demographic parameters such as age, gender and socio-economic status and comorbidities of patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB were retrieved from the DOTS register. The data was analyzed.Results: A total of 241 patients (134 males and 107 females) were enrolled. In general, age group 41-60 years showed maximum incidence (p=0.0283). Lower middle (32.7%) and middle class (36.5%) strata constituted the majority of burden (p=0.9091). The distribution of cases was not associated to occupation (p=0.06). Extrapulmonary form (55%) was found to be predominant with very poor awareness (p=0.06). A significant delay of at least 1-3 months in recognizing the symptoms and thus the clinical diagnosis particularly in extrapulmonary cases was found. Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent comorbidity in TB patients.Conclusions: The prevalence was most common in age group 41-60 years without any association to occupation. Since the diabetes mellitus is the most frequent comorbidity in TB patients, early screening will make an effective management. Society oriented awareness programme about the extrapulmonary TB is inevitable