Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, causing substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite global efforts to control and eliminate TB, the disease continues to affect millions, with an estimated 10 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths reported in 2019 alone.The burden of TB is further complicated by the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.  Material and Method: This study was a prospective, non-interventional and observational study was carried out in the Department of General Medicine at Ballari Medical College and Research Centre, Ballari. The source of data for this study comprised tuberculosis (TB) patients with known diabetes mellitus (DM) and newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus visiting the TB Cell Hospital. Confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis as evidenced by either sputum for Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB), Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT), or radiological investigations.  Result: A vast majority of the participants (91.0%, 131 participants) had negative sputum status, while 9.0% (13 participants) did not have their sputum status reported. No participants had positive sputum status at the end of treatment. The p-value of < 0.001 suggests a highly statistically significant difference in sputum status at the end of treatment. The majority of the participants (91.0%, 131 participants) were cured, while 9.0% (13 participants) died. The p-value of 0.006 indicates a statistically significant difference in treatment outcomes. In this study, participants who were cured had lower mean FBS (135.4 ± 33.7 mg/dL), PPBS (206.9 ± 46.8 mg/dL), and median HbA1c (6.5%) at baseline compared to those who were not cured (FBS: 174.9 ± 46.5 mg/dL, PPBS: 252.2 ± 62.9 mg/dL, HbA1c (7.8%, IQR: 7.2 - 8.6%). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the factors influencing treatment outcomes in patients with TB-DM comorbidity and underscores the need for personalized management strategies, routine DM screening, and appropriate treatment modalities to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating targeted interventions to optimize treatment outcomes and reduce mortality in patients with TB-DM comorbidity.

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