Association Between Diagnostic Delays and Spinal Involvement in Human Brucellosis: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

Spinal involvement is a common but serious complication of human brucellosis. However, information on the risk factors associated with spinal involvement in individuals with brucellosis is limited.

This retrospective case-control study aimed to determine the potential risk factors associated with spinal complications in inpatients with brucellosis.

During the study period, brucellosis was diagnosed in 377 patients, of whom 108 (28.64%) showed spinal involvement. Those with spinal involvement were significantly older than patients in the control group (mean age [standard deviation], 53.25 [10.48] vs 43.12 [13.84] years, respectively; P < .001). The diagnostic delays were significantly longer in patients with spinal involvement than in the control group (mean delay [standard deviation], 11.17 [13.55] vs 6.03 [8.02] weeks; P = .001). Age >40 years (odds ratio, 5.42 [95% confidence interval, 2.65-11.05]; P < .001) and diagnostic delay >4 weeks (2.94 [1.62-5.35]; P < .001) were independently associated with spinal involvement in brucellosis. The lumbar spine at the L3-5 level was the most affected (152 of 249 [61.04%]). Back pain (92 of 108 in case patients vs 21 of 108 in controls; P < .001) and splenomegaly (23 vs 42 of 108, respectively; P = .005) differed significantly between the 2 groups.

Age >40 years and diagnostic delay >4 weeks increased the risk of spinal involvement in brucellosis. Therefore, the time from symptom onset to diagnosis should be shortened, using effective measures to reduce spinal involvement risk.