Impact of diabetes mellitus on pulmonary tuberculosis clinical presentation and treatment outcomes
Background: The association of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is very common. Objectives: to find out whether there is a difference in clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of diagnosed PTB in diabetic patients comparing to PTB patients without diabetes mellitus. Methods: Clinical symptoms, radiographic appearance of extensive forms of PTB as well as treatment outcomes of pulmonary tuberculosis were reviewed in 97 diabetic patients and compared to 97 patients affected only by PTB. Results: Cough was the most common symptom in both groups, but with significant difference in the favour of diabetic patients (p Conclusions: More severe clinical presentation and lower TB treatment cure rate were registered in diabetic patients comparing to non-diabetics.