TB in the elderly: clinical features and outcomes

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Geriatrics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) incidence is shifting towards older populations in low-incidence countries.
• Elderly TB patients often exhibit altered clinical and radiological presentations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of TB in patients aged 75 years and older.
• To identify factors predicting adverse outcomes in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter retrospective study was conducted using data from 53 hospitals.
• The study analyzed new TB cases registered between 2006 and 2020.

Main Results:

• Out of 7,505 TB patients, 731 were aged 75 years or older.
• Elderly patients showed higher rates of weight loss, disseminated disease, normal X-rays, and toxicity.
• All-cause mortality was 16% in the elderly cohort, with 5% attributed to TB.

Conclusions:

• Tuberculosis in older adults requires increased clinical attention due to atypical presentations and higher mortality.
• While standard treatment is effective, age, low weight, and non-standard regimens are critical predictors of mortality.