The role of anthropometric and other predictors for diabetes among urban Tanzanians with tuberculosis

TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of anthropometric and other predictors for diabetes among urban Tanzanians with tuberculosis

AU - Faurholt-Jepsen, Daniel

AU - Range, N

AU - PrayGod, G

AU - Jeremiah, K

AU - Faurholt-Jepsen, Maria

AU - Aabye, M G

AU - Changalucha, J

AU - Christensen, Dirk Lund

AU - Witte, D R

AU - Andersen, A B

AU - Friis, Henrik

N1 - IHE 2012 051

PY - 2012/12/1

Y1 - 2012/12/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: As diabetes impairs tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes, it is essential to identify diabetes among TB patients. While little is known about predictors of diabetes among healthy individuals in Africa, predictors among TB patients are almost non-existent. OBJECTIVE: To assess potential predictors for diabetes among newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients in Tanzania. METHODS: TB patients were tested for diabetes using an oral glucose tolerance test, demographic information was collected and anthropometric measurements taken. The association between diabetes and possible predictors were examined using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 1205 TB patients, 16.4% (n = 197) had diabetes, 9.0% (n = 108) were aged ≥55 years, 3.3% (n = 40) were overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2) and 12.7% (n = 152) severely underweight (BMI < 16 kg/m2). Diabetes was most prevalent in the 45-55 year age group, and increasing weight, BMI and waist circumference were associated with diabetes. Severe underweight (BMI < 16 kg/m2) among male TB patients (sex-BMI interaction, P = 0.02) was associated with diabetes (OR 2.52, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Diabetes is a common comorbidity among TB patients. Although diabetes was associated with obesity and was more prevalent among the middle-aged, the majority of TB patients with diabetes comorbidity were young and lean. With diabetes as a major risk factor for TB, and with the lack of strong predictors for diabetes, universal diabetes screening should be implemented in the TB programme.

AB - BACKGROUND: As diabetes impairs tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes, it is essential to identify diabetes among TB patients. While little is known about predictors of diabetes among healthy individuals in Africa, predictors among TB patients are almost non-existent. OBJECTIVE: To assess potential predictors for diabetes among newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients in Tanzania. METHODS: TB patients were tested for diabetes using an oral glucose tolerance test, demographic information was collected and anthropometric measurements taken. The association between diabetes and possible predictors were examined using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 1205 TB patients, 16.4% (n = 197) had diabetes, 9.0% (n = 108) were aged ≥55 years, 3.3% (n = 40) were overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2) and 12.7% (n = 152) severely underweight (BMI < 16 kg/m2). Diabetes was most prevalent in the 45-55 year age group, and increasing weight, BMI and waist circumference were associated with diabetes. Severe underweight (BMI < 16 kg/m2) among male TB patients (sex-BMI interaction, P = 0.02) was associated with diabetes (OR 2.52, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Diabetes is a common comorbidity among TB patients. Although diabetes was associated with obesity and was more prevalent among the middle-aged, the majority of TB patients with diabetes comorbidity were young and lean. With diabetes as a major risk factor for TB, and with the lack of strong predictors for diabetes, universal diabetes screening should be implemented in the TB programme.

U2 - 10.5588/ijtld.12.0360

DO - 10.5588/ijtld.12.0360

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23131269

SN - 1027-3719

VL - 16

SP - 1680

EP - 1685

JO - International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

JF - International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

IS - 12

ER -