Tuberculosis and alcohol use; findings from a subnational TB prevalence survey in India.

BACKGROUND: Population based surveys are crucial in understanding the relation between alcohol usage and tuberculosis epidemiology.

METHODS: A state-wide population-based large sample size cross-sectional Tuberculosis (TB) survey was conducted in India. Participants from 180 clusters were screened with x-ray and sputum examination.

RESULTS: In total 130,932 participants were screened. Among the "alcohol-use" population 115(0.6&#xa0;%) and among non-alcoholics 129(0.12&#xa0;%) were diagnosed with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (MCPTB). The adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) of MCPTB in the alcohol-use population was 4.2(3.24-5.45). The adjusted-PR(aPR) of MCPTB disease in 'alcohol-use' population was significantly associated with increasing age, under nutrition and past history of TB. The aPR for age between 31 and 45 years was 2.85(0.9-8.6); 46-60 years was 6.24(2.3-16.8) and >60 years was 7.77(2.7-21.6). For BMI of 18.50-22.99 was 3.2(1.6-6.2), BMI of 16.50-18.49 was 9.9(4.7-21.1) and BMI of <16.50 was 14.0(6.3-31.5)). For past history of TB was 3.76(2.2-6.5). The number needed to screen to diagnose one participant with MCPTB in the general population was 537 and in 'alcohol-use' group was 168.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MCPTB in 'alcohol-use' individuals is four times higher when compared to non-alcoholic individuals. Increases in age, undernutrition and past history of PTB were highly associated with MCPTB disease among 'alcohol-use' participants.