Prevalence of Tuberculosis Risk Factors among Bacteriologically Negative and Bacteriologically Confirmed Tuberculosis Patients from Five Regional Referral Hospitals in Uganda
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Abstract
Understanding risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) and their prevalence helps guide early diagnosis. We
determined their prevalence among bacteriologically negative and bacteriologically confirmed TB patients in five regional
referral hospitals in Uganda. This cross-sectional study considered 1,862 adult presumptive TB participants. We performed
fluorescent microscopy, Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), Lowenstein–Jensen culture, human immunodeficiency virus, and
random blood sugar testing on recruited patients. Prevalence and prevalence ratios of risk factors were compared among
bacteriologically negative and confirmed cases. Odds ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined for
significant risk factors in bacteriologically confirmed patients. Of the 1,862 participants, 978 (55%) were male and the
median age of the participants was 36 years (interquartile range: 27–48). Up to 273 (15%) had a positive result on all three
TB tests. Most prevalent risk factors (prevalence ratio [PR] > 1.0) among bacteriologically negative and positive TB
patients were cigarette smoking (9.3% versus 2.1%; PR = 2.1), biosmoke (24% versus 39.7%; PR = 1.7), contact (4.2%
versus 6.5%; PR = 1.6), male gender (51.4% versus 72.5%; PR = 1.4), alcohol use (17.2% versus 24.4%; PR = 1.4),
diabetes (0.7% versus 0.9%; PR = 1.3), and family history of TB (12.1% versus 13.7%; PR = 1.1). The risk factors and their
adjusted prevalence rate ratios (95% CI) of being bacteriologically positive were male (1.8 [1.4–2.4]), biosmoke exposure
(1.5 [1.2–2.0]), and history of cigarette smoking (1.6 [1.1–2.4]). Among bacteriologically confirmed patients in Uganda,
cigarette smoking, biosmoke exposure, contact, male gender, alcohol use, diabetes, and family history of TB are important
risk factors for TB. Interventions for TB control in people with these risk factors would help in TB control efforts.
Description
Keywords
Tuberculosis, Risk Factors, Bacteriologically, Tuberculosis Patients, Regional Referral Hospitals
Citation
Muttamba, W., Kirenga, B., Ssengooba, W., Sekibira, R., Katamba, A., & Joloba, M. L. (2019). Prevalence of tuberculosis risk factors among bacteriologically negative and bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis patients from five regional referral hospitals in Uganda. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 100(2), 386. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.18-0281