Comorbidity profiles among sputum-positive tuberculosis patients in Cameroon

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), kidney diseases, and hypertension can complicate tuberculosis (TB) treatment and increase patient burden.
• Understanding the prevalence and patterns of these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in TB patients is crucial for effective disease management and public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile the prevalence of comorbidities among sputum-positive TB patients in Cameroon's South West and Littoral regions.
• To identify factors associated with the presence of NCDs in active TB patients to inform public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 549 sputum-positive TB patients.
• Data collection included socio-demographic and clinical information, with NCDs defined by specific diagnostic criteria (e.g., elevated blood glucose for diabetes, blood pressure for hypertension).
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of at least one NCD among TB patients was 10.2%.
• Diabetes was the most frequent comorbidity (4.4%), followed by kidney disease (2%), hypertension (0.9%), and CVD (0.9%).
• Age and education level were significantly associated with the presence of at least one comorbidity.

Conclusions:

• Diabetes is the most prevalent NCD comorbidity in sputum-positive TB patients in the studied regions.
• Public health programs should consider systematic screening of TB patients for NCDs, especially diabetes, to enhance disease control efforts.