Particularities of pulmonary tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains a public health problem in Tunisia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, confinement with promiscuity and fear of seeking medical attention were likely responsible for more severe forms. <bold>Aim:</bold> to assess the characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. <bold>Method:</bold> This is a retrospective study including patients treated for PTB in the respiratory department of Charles Nicolle hospital in Tunisia during the period from March 1 to December 31 of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. The patients were divided into 2 groups: G0 (59 patients) group of patients treated in 2018 + 2019 and G1 (26 patients) group of those treated in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. <bold>Results:</bold> We included 85 patients, out of which 70 were males (82,3%). The median age of the G0 was 35.7 years and 46 years for G1, (p=0.042).There was no significant difference in the consultation time (58 ± 54 days for G0 vs 54 ± 49 days for G1), nor in the time to confirme diagnosis of PTB (9 ± 9.4 days for G0 vs 11 ± 10.2 days for G1). G1 patients presented more often extensive radiological lesions than G0 : 44% vs 21% (p=0.037). G1 patients showed more common multifocal tuberculosis (11.5% vs 5.6% p=0.032). There was no significant difference in the treatement protocol nor in the adherence to treatment. Hospital stay was longer in G0 (14 ± 12 days vs 10.5 ± 8 days, p=0.03). There were 6 deaths in G0 and 2 deaths in G1. For the other patients, evolution was favorable under treatment. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Pulmonary tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be more widespread, more severe, affecting more elderly subjects.