Diabetes Mellitus and HIV Infection among Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in the North West Region of Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective To determine the prevalence rate of HIV and diabetes among tuberculosis (TB) patients and also the comorbidity rate. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting . This study was carried out at the Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Regional Hospital Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon, from January 2017 to December 2019. Participants . 1115 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis aged ≥14 years (mean 42.5 ± 15.28 years). Methods Sputum samples collected were acid-fast stained and examined macroscopically as well as inoculated for culture. A chest X-ray was performed for further confirmation of TB diagnosis. After the TB diagnosis was done, fasting blood glucose, 2 h-PG test, HbA1c, and biochemical enzymatic tests were performed for the diagnosis of diabetes. Rapid strip test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to diagnose HIV infection. Interventions . No intervention was done during the period of study. Outcome Measures . The prevalence of TB/HIV and TB/HIV/DM, signs and symptoms, imaging results, and bacteriology status among TB/HIV, TB/HIV/DM coinfected, and comorbidity cases. Results Of 1115 participants, 38.57% had TB/HIV, and 5.83% had TB/HIV/DM. Among TB/HIV/DM cases, 20.39% had a cough for more than 2 weeks [ p p p p = 0.018). Significant differences were observed between signs and symptoms, imaging results, bacteriology, treatment history for TB cases and those with HIV and/or DM, and those without HIV and/or DM coinfection and comorbidity. Conclusion This study reports a high prevalence of DM comorbidity and HIV coinfection among active TB patients in the North West Region of Cameroon as well as TB/HIV/DM comorbidity.