A Comparative Study of Nutritional Status in Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a global health challenge with significant morbidity and mortality rates. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the nutritional status between pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) patients. A total of 75 newly diagnosed PTB cases and 73 EPTB cases were included. The mean age was 46.92 for PTB patients and 48.75 for EPTB patients, with a notable male predominance in both groups. Lifestyle habits revealed higher rates of alcohol consumption and smoking among PTB patients. Diabetes was a prevalent co-morbidity in both groups, with a higher impact on PTB patients. Tubercular pleural effusion was the most common type of EPTB observed. Clinical examinations showed signs of malnutrition more frequently in PTB patients. Objective measures such as BMI, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), hemoglobin, and serum albumin indicated higher rates of malnutrition in PTB patients compared to EPTB patients. Specifically, 75% of PTB patients were malnourished based on BMI, whereas only 35% of EPTB patients fell into this category. Severe anemia and hypoalbuminemia were also more prevalent in PTB patients compared to EPTB patients. These findings underscore the importance of considering nutritional status in the management of TB, with implications for tailored interventions based on disease presentation.