Prevalence of Tuberculosis/COVID 19 Co-Infection among Active Tuberculosis Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Uttarakhand, India

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread all over the world and was accepted as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Lungs are predominantly affected by tuberculosis and COVID -19. The objective of the study was to assess the clinical features of COVID-19 in active tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra-pulmonary) and to identify the radiological and laboratory picture of COVID -19 in patients with active tuberculosis. A cross -sectional study was conducted by the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, among patients of active tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra-pulmonary) who presented to the General Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Respiratory Medicine Department. The questionnaire included questions on socio -demographic profile, clinical features, comorbidities, clinical history, any substance abuse and laboratory investigations. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 21.0, while Chi-square test was used for categorical data analysis. The mean age of the study participants was 47.5±5.3 years (Range 18-72). Males constituted the larger group (59.38%) as compared to females (40.63%). The prevalence of COVID-19/tuberculosis co-infection in the present study was 21.8%. Positive history of contact, bacterial culture, PCR, and CBNAAT, use of the drug, presence of cavity and pleural effusion on X -Ray, showed all remarkably higher chances (p< 0.05) of developing co-infection. The prevalence of COVID-19/tuberculosis co-infection in the present study was high. Significantly associated factors can help in identifying COVID -19 infection among tuberculosis patients. Therefore, it is recommended that screening for these factors should be done for all tuberculosis patients coming for treatment and Covid 19 vaccination.