Prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis among diabetes patients in Taiwan: A cross-sectional study

Anne Chang, Chung Ze Wu, Jiunn Diann Lin, Chun Nin Lee, Kun Yuan Tsai, Pin Hao Wu, An Tsz Hsieh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), leading to an approximate three-fold higher risk of developing active TB. However, epidemiological studies on the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) in DM patients are lacking. In this study, we investigated the presence of LTBI and determined risk factors for LTBI in DM patients. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study at Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital in northern Taiwan. The study population comprised DM patients (aged 20-70 years) attending a metabolism outpatient clinic between February 2011 and February 2013, excluding patients who were suspected or confirmed to have active TB. Venous blood samples were drawn from patients to detect LTBI using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) method. Results: We enrolled 1120 patients with DM. The QFT-GIT showed positive results for 241 people (21.5%) and negative results for 879 people (78.5%). The mean age at QFT-GIT positivity was 58.2 years, which was significantly dissimilar to the mean age at QFT-GIT negativity, which was 55.0 years (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that the trend of QFT-GIT positivity increased after the age of 50 years. Effective glycemic control did not differ significantly between QFT-GIT-positive and -negative patients. Moreover, men were predominant were predominant in both QFT-GIT-positive and -negative patients. Conclusions: More than one-fifth of DM patients have LTBI. Among the DM patients, those older than 50 years may have a higher risk of LTBI. Moreover, effective glycemic control did not differ significantly in patients with LTBI.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)644-649
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Infection in Developing Countries
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • Latent tuberculosis infection
  • QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube method (QFT-GIT)
  • diabetes
  • interferon gamma release assays (IGRA)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis among diabetes patients in Taiwan: A cross-sectional study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this