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Risk Factors for Tuberculosis in Elderly: Prevalence and Population-attributable Risk.
Roopa Sri Ravichandran1, Sadhana Subramanian1, Subitha Lakshminarayanan1
1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
Summary
Malnutrition and diabetes are significant risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) in the elderly in rural India. Screening for these conditions aids in early TB detection and prevention among older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant threat to the elderly, with malnutrition identified as a primary driver in India.
- Known risk factors for TB include undernourishment, alcohol use, smoking, diabetes, and HIV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of nutritional, behavioral, environmental, and clinical risk factors for TB among individuals over 60 years old.
- Focus on selected rural areas of Puducherry, India.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 214 elderly participants in four Puducherry villages.
- Utilized the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) Scale and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria for malnutrition assessment.
- Assessed food insecurity using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of malnutrition was 20.1% (GLIM) and 11.2% (MNA).
- Other prevalent risk factors included tobacco use (30.2%), diabetes (31.8%), and overcrowding (46.2%).
- Malnutrition (GLIM criteria) and diabetes had the highest population-attributable fractions at 15% and 11%, respectively.
Conclusions:
- A substantial majority of elderly individuals (90%) had at least one TB risk factor, with one in three having more than three.
- Screening for known TB risk factors in the elderly is crucial for early detection and prevention of tuberculosis.
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