Risk factors for tuberculosis in patients with chronic alcoholism

Chronic alcohol consumption has a major impact on the risk for becoming infected with <i>M. tuberculsois</i> and being sick with TB. The purpose was to identify the risk factors (RF) for TB in patients with chronic alcoholism (CA). Methodology: in a selective, retrospective study were included 108 cases with pulmonary TB and CA (study group-SG) and 141 patients with diagnosed CA without TB (either active nor in anamnesis) registered in 2018 in Chisinau was done. Relative risk was calculated via 2x2 table. Low level of RF was assessed for RR=1.6-2,59; moderate RR=2,6-5,59 and high level for RR&gt;6. <b>Results:</b> RF were urban residence 96(90%) <i>vs</i> 80(57%) cases, OR=6 (CI95%:3-12), homelessness (43(40%) cases in SG, OR=89 (CI95%:12-66), labor migration (10(9%)&nbsp;cases in SG, OR=14 (CI95%:12-113), unemployment 109(77%) <i>vs</i> 49(35%) cases, OR=3,5 (CI95%: 2-8), lack of health insurance 81(75%) <i>vs</i> 59(41%) cases, OR=4,2 (CI95%:2-7), low education level (primary/incomplete secondary level) (85(79%) <i>vs</i> 95(67%) cases OR=2,3 (CI95%:2-4), history of detention 13(12%) <i>vs</i> 1(1%)&nbsp;case OR=19(CI95%:3-148), TB contact in 10 (10%) cases of SG, OR=14(CI95%:2-113) and TB/HIV 6(6%) cases in SG, OR=8 (CI95%:3-69). High RF for TB in patients with CA were: urban residence, homelessness, migration, history of detention, TB contact and TB/HIV co-infection; moderate RF were unemployment and health insurance and low RF was incomplete educational level. <b>Conclusions:</b> Active screening for TB must be implemented selectively in patients with CA, which have following associated predisposing conditions: urban residence, deep social vulnerability, labour migration, history of detention, TB contact and TB/HIV co-infection.