Diabetes Mellitus and its Association with Body Mass Index in Sputum Positive Tuberculosis Patients in a Tertiary Health Care Centre

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease that causes pulmonary tuberculosis and also affects
other tissues of the body. People with diabetes mellitus and those who are underweight have an increased risk of
getting active tuberculosis. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and to
determine its association with Body Mass Index in tuberculosis patients.
Methods: In the present record-based cross-sectional study, 100 sputum smear positive tuberculosis patients 18
years and older who attended the out-patient department of Pulmonary Medicine from 1/6/2020 to 31/12/2022
were included and sputum smear negative patients were excluded. Data entry and analysis was done in Microsoft
Excel. Percentages were calculated and association between diabetes mellitus and Body Mass Index of the study
population was assessed by chi square test.
Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in tuberculosis patients was almost double than that of the
general population of India and its association with underweight was found to be statistically significant. So
proper screening of all patients of tuberculosis for diabetes mellitus is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment.
Health education and counselling are equally important