Study of the Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus at Katihar Medical College

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important risk factor for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Chronic hyperglycaemia impairs host immune responses and increases susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and active disease. The coexistence of DM and PTB represents an important clinical and public-health concern, particularly in high-burden settings such as India.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among patients with diabetes mellitus attending Katihar Medical College and Hospital, Katihar, Bihar.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted over 18 months, from March 2024 to August 2025, among 100 patients with diabetes mellitus attending the Outpatient and Inpatient Departments of General Medicine. Participants underwent detailed clinical evaluation, assessment of glycaemic status, laboratory investigations, chest radiography and, where indicated, high-resolution computed tomography. Suspected PTB was evaluated by sputum examination for acid-fast bacilli and molecular testing using CBNAAT or TRUNAT. Data were analysed using SPSS version 22.0 and Microsoft Excel 2019.

Results: Pulmonary tuberculosis was identified in 10 of 100 diabetic patients, giving a prevalence of 10.0%. The mean age of participants was 48.33 years, and 57.0% were male. Among the study population, 82.0% were known cases of diabetes mellitus. Among patients with PTB, cough was the most frequent symptom, followed by fever, weight loss and night sweats. Chest radiography was suggestive of PTB in 10.0% of participants; AFB positivity was observed in 2.0% and CBNAAT positivity in 8.0%.

Conclusion: Pulmonary tuberculosis was an important comorbidity among patients with diabetes mellitus in this hospital-based study. The findings support active clinical assessment and appropriate microbiological and radiological evaluation for PTB among diabetic patients, together with attention to glycaemic status and other associated risk factors.