ABSTRACT
We compared delay in presumptive diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in elderly and younger patents, yield of diagnosis and whether the yield is influenced by the radiographic presentation, even when PTB was suspected. Time from first complaints to first consideration of PTB was determined as suspicion interval (SI) and from first consideration to diagnosis as recognition interval (RI). Presumptive diagnosis was defined as positive staining for acid-fast bacilli or presence of granulomatous lesions in pulmonary specimens. Inthe elderly and in the younger patients, the mean SI was 111.1 and 878 days respectively (P = NS), and the mean RI was 5.9 and 8.3 days, respectively (P = NS). The mean RI was longer in uncharacteristic than in characteristic radiographic findings in both elderly (8.2 and 4.6 days; P = 0.007) and younger patients (10.6 and 3.9 days; P=0.0001). A diagnosis was obtained in 89/113 elderly (79%) and in 109/138 younger (79%) patients (P=NS) and also in 59/80 (73%) patients with uncharacteristic findings and in 139/170 (82%) patients with characteristic findings (P = NS). In the latter, sputum contributed for 66% ofdiagnosis, whereas it was only 31% in patients with uncharacteristic findings (P < 0.005). In elderly patients with uncharacteristic radiographic findings, diagnosis was obtained from sputum in 41% and from other specimens in 35% (P = NS); in the younger group diagnosis was obtained from sputum in 23% and from other specimens in 48% (P < 0.05). In conclusion, there was no difference in SI and RI in elderly patients in comparison with younger patients. Uncharacteristic radiographic findings increased RI in both age groups. Age or radiographic presentation did not influence diagnosing PTB. In patients with characteristic radiographic findings, diagnosis was especially made from examination of sputum, whereas in those with uncharacteristic findings, diagnosis was more often obtained from the complementary investigation of other specimens.
