Diabetes among pulmonary tuberculosis cases - An impact of glycemic control on clinic-radiological profile

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus are major public health concerns in India. Pulmonary tuberculosis in cases with diabetes shows an unusual radiographic pattern and higher frequency for cavitation. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the impact of glycemic control on the clinico-radiological profile of pulmonary tuberculosis in cases with diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: A total of 126 cases clinically confirmed and microbiologically diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis above 21 years of age were recruited. Based on the blood glucose levels cases were divided into prediabetics, newly diagnosed diabetics, and known diabetics. Clinical and radiological examinations were conducted. Results: Cough was the most prevalent clinical symptom followed by fever, loss of appetite, loss of weight, and dyspnea. In the radiographic examination, lower lung field was most commonly involved in newly diagnosed and known diabetes cases. Cavitary lesions were commonly noticed in multiple zone implication, multiple cavities, and bilateral cavity involvement was observed more often in newly diagnosed and known diabetic cases. Among the diabetic cases (94), satisfactory glycemic control was observed in 39 cases and poor glycemic control was seen in 55 cases. The mean symptom score in the cases with satisfactory glycemic control was 3.87 and in poor glycemic control was 3.99. Conclusion: Diabetic cases with lower lung field lesions may be an indication of tuberculosis which needs immediate diagnosis and management. In this study, poor glycemic control influence the radiological manifestations of pulmonary tuberculosis cases with diabetes. [Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol 2022; 12(5.000): 703-706]