PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON LEPTIN LEVELS AMONG TRIBAL AND NON-TRIBAL POPULATIONS OF SOUTHERN RAJASTHAN

Objective: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, disproportionately affecting poor and malnourished populations. Malnutrition, usually noted among tribal groups, exacerbates vulnerability to infections. Adipose tissue is usually used to secrete the hormone leptin, which is closely related to immunological responses, strength balance, and nutritional health. This study aimed to analyze the modifications in serum leptin levels among tribal and non-tribal PTB patients in Southern Rajasthan throughout extensive and continuation levels of anti-tubercular therapy (ATT). Methods: A complete of 207 newly diagnosed PTB patients (123 tribal and 84 non-tribal) and 207 healthy controls were enrolled in this comparative, analytical study. Patient’s anthropometric measurements (specifically body mass index [BMI]) and serum leptin levels had been recorded before remedy and again after 3 months of ATT. Statistical evaluation among the tribal and non-tribal populations was done using an unpaired t-test. p<0.05 is considered statistically significant. Results: The mean BMI of patients significantly increased from 15.10±2.04 kg/m2 before treatment to 19.12±2.21 kg/m2 after treatment (p<0.05) and was remarkably lower as compared to healthy controls, 21.07±2.64 kg/m2. Before starting treatment, patients’ mean serum leptin levels and pleural fluid leptin levels were considerably lower at 1.98±0.71 ng/mL and 1.62±1.11 ng/mL, respectively. Following medication, there was a significant increase of 4.20±1.0 ng/mL. Before treatment, the mean BMI 14.99±1.85 kg/m2 levels among tribal patients were lower as compared to the non-tribal patients, 15.23±2.29. Further, serum leptin levels among the tribal population, before treatment were 1.77±0.66 ng/mL and after treatment were 4.03±1.05 as compared to the non-tribal group, 15.23±2.29 kg/m2 and 2.29±0.68 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusion: ATT significantly improves nutritional markers and leptin levels in PTB patients. Notably, tribal populations exhibit a greater deficit at baseline, underscoring the role of malnutrition in disease progression and the need for targeted nutritional interventions.