DIFFERENCES IN TUBERCULOSIS BASED ON GENDER PECULIARITIES

The relationship between the gender peculiarities and tuberculosis is under-recognized due to a complex of factors. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the gender peculiarities over tuberculosis features and treatment outcome in the Chisinau city. Material and methods: A retrospective, selective, descriptive study targeting social, demographic, economic and epidemiological peculiarities, case-management, radiological aspects and microbiological characteristics of 467 patients registered with tuberculosis in the Chisinau city, the Republic of Moldova (MD) during 1.1.2015-31.12.2015 was performed. Results: the distribution based on gender identified the predominance of men 285 (61.03%) compared to women 182 (38.9%). Women statistically predominated in the group of 18-34 years old and men in the group of 35-54 years old. Every tenth patient from both groups was a hard-to-reach case. The microbiological positive cases constituted one third of both groups and multidrug resistance was identified in every tenth patient. Pulmonary infiltrative tuberculosis was diagnosed in most of the patients while severe forms such as disseminated, generalized and fibro-cavernous tuberculosis - more frequently in men. TB-HIV co-infection was established in a similar proportion in both groups. Social-vulnerable patients, from high risk groups, with associated diseases were identified at a similar rate in both groups. Treatment success rate was higher in women and lower in men. Conclusions: Women aged 18-34 years and men aged 35-54 years should be included in high risk groups for annual screening. Despite the lack of differences in the microbiological patterns severe forms such as disseminated, generalized and fibro-cavernous tuberculosis were more frequently diagnosed in men and as a consequence the treatment success was low.