Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Diabetic Patients Living in Rural Areas of Northern Iran in 2016

 Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic bacterial infection. Simultaneous onset of diabetes and TB can interfere with the treatment and control of TB. 

 This study aims to investigate the prevalence of TB in diabetic patients living in rural areas of northern Iran.

 Participants were 925 diabetic patients living in rural areas of Kordkuy County, Golestan, Iran. Data were collected using a checklist surveying demographic characteristics and medical records of patients. To diagnose TB, they underwent a TB skin test, sputum smear test, chest radiography, and referring to an infectious diseases specialist, if needed. 

 Seven hundred sixteen of participants were female. The mean age of participants and their mean duration of diabetes were 58.4±11.1 and 8.39±5.47 years, respectively. Results of test showed that 62 patients had abnormal chest x-ray; 14 had coughing more than two weeks; 1 had fever; 2 had night sweats; 11 had sputum; 152 had positive TB skin test result; 10 had a history of previous TB; and 1 had active TB. 

 The prevalence and incidence of TB in diabetic patients is 60 and 6 times higher than in general population, respectively.