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Reza Nafarshalamzari1 
, Seyed Vahid Ahmadi Tabatabaei1 , Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi2 , Amin Arabshahi3 , Naser Rajabi4 , Vahidreza Borhaninejad Borhaninejad *5
, Seyed Vahid Ahmadi Tabatabaei1 , Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi2 , Amin Arabshahi3 , Naser Rajabi4 , Vahidreza Borhaninejad Borhaninejad *5
1- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
2- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. Iran.
3- Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. ,v.borhani@yahoo.com
2- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. Iran.
3- Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. ,
Abstract: (45 Views)
Background: Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases worldwide, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable due to physiological and immunological changes. This study aimed to compare the clinical, laboratory, radiological characteristics, and treatment adherence between elderly and non‑elderly patients with tuberculosis in Qom Province, Iran.
Methods: This cross‑sectional analytical study was conducted on 866 tuberculosis patients (319 elderly ≥60 years and 547 non‑elderly 18‑59 years) during 2017–2022. Data were extracted from the SIB electronic health record system and the National Tuberculosis Registry Portal. Independent t‑test, Chi‑square, and Fisher’s exact test were used for group comparisons. The significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was significantly higher in the elderly than in the non‑elderly (86.8% vs. 65.3%, P < 0.001). Pre‑treatment smear results showed that the elderly had a higher proportion of negative or 1+ results (P < 0.001), and their radiological patterns were more atypical (less suggestive: 38.6%, more suggestive: 41.1%, P < 0.001). Treatment adherence was high in both groups, with no significant difference between the elderly and non‑elderly (P = 0.09 for pattern of cases; no treatment default was recorded in any group).
Conclusion: Elderly patients with tuberculosis have significantly different clinical, laboratory, and radiological features compared to non‑elderly patients. Despite favorable treatment adherence in both groups, tailored interventions including active screening, targeted education appropriate for literacy level, social support, continuous treatment monitoring, and complementary diagnostic methods are essential for the elderly.
Methods: This cross‑sectional analytical study was conducted on 866 tuberculosis patients (319 elderly ≥60 years and 547 non‑elderly 18‑59 years) during 2017–2022. Data were extracted from the SIB electronic health record system and the National Tuberculosis Registry Portal. Independent t‑test, Chi‑square, and Fisher’s exact test were used for group comparisons. The significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was significantly higher in the elderly than in the non‑elderly (86.8% vs. 65.3%, P < 0.001). Pre‑treatment smear results showed that the elderly had a higher proportion of negative or 1+ results (P < 0.001), and their radiological patterns were more atypical (less suggestive: 38.6%, more suggestive: 41.1%, P < 0.001). Treatment adherence was high in both groups, with no significant difference between the elderly and non‑elderly (P = 0.09 for pattern of cases; no treatment default was recorded in any group).
Conclusion: Elderly patients with tuberculosis have significantly different clinical, laboratory, and radiological features compared to non‑elderly patients. Despite favorable treatment adherence in both groups, tailored interventions including active screening, targeted education appropriate for literacy level, social support, continuous treatment monitoring, and complementary diagnostic methods are essential for the elderly.
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