Predictors for Concurrent Diabetes in Tuberculosis Patients. Perspectives from Two Mining Districts of Eastern Tribal State Jharkhand, in India.

Background: Tuberculosis and diabetes both diseases are present in large numbers in the country and we are major contributors to both globally. With the objective to understand the various traits of patients having both tuberculosis and diabetes and to ascertain various possible predictors for such occurrence based on the public health database we carried out this study. We seek answers to questions like they have any effects? Are they having any additive role to play?

Methods: One-year data from the NIKSHAY portal of both districts were analyzed to look for possible associations and other variable traits. Data were analyzed using standard methods to express data in frequency and percentage. Chi-square test was used to establish association, while step-wise approach was used to calculate univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis for knowing various predictors. P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Concurrent diabetes in tuberculosis patients was close to 294 (6%) in the 4933 individuals. In total, 65.2% of the study population were male. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was made most of the time by chest X-ray (49.4%) followed by Microscopy ZN staining and cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT). Death was more among diabetics (4.4%) as compared to nondiabetics (3.5%).

Conclusion: Diabetes is increasing in tuberculosis patients; improvement in data quality is needed. More research is required to reveal various other reasons that make tuberculosis patients more prone to develop diabetes.