Risk Factors of Pulmonary Tubercuosis and its Hematological Parameters

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the different peripheral blood parameters and risk factors in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Study Design: Case Control study

Place and Duration: Mayo Hospital Lahore. Feb 2021-Aug-2021

Methods: There were 70 patients of both genders were presented in this study.  Age of the patients was between 20-70 years. After obtaining informed written agreement, the demographics of enrolled patients were recorded, including age, sex, physique mass index, socioeconomic status, residence, and employment. All the patients had confirmed tuberculosis. As a precaution, a little amount of venous blood was drawn. Sysmex KX 21 haematology analyzer and a peripheral smear were used to analyse around 2 ml of blood in an EDTA tube. Only 2 cc of the patient's blood were utilised to calculate ESR using the Westergren tube technique. Patients filled out a questionnaire that asked them about their symptoms, and the information was then entered into a database. SPSS 21.0 was used to analyze complete data.

Results: Among 70 cases, 38 (54.3%) were males and 32 (45.7%) were female patients with mean age 42.61 ±11.43 years. Majority of the patients 52 (75.7%) had lower socio-economic status and 50 (71.4%) patients were from rural areas. 45 (64.3%) patients were jobless. Smoking and alcohol abuse was the most common cause among all cases. There were significant differences between the sexes patients and normal level in the hematocrit (Hb), PCV, RBC count, MCV, MCH values (p-value 0.05). Cases had a considerably lower platelet count. Patients  had considerably higher total leukocyte, ESR readings compared to normal level (p-value 0.05), and the difference was statistically significant.ad considerably higher total leukocyte, ESR readings compared to normal level (p-value 0.05), and the difference was statistically significant.

Conclusion: We concluded that ESR, platelets, and leukocytes are all haematological markers that may be used to identify patients at an early stage of the illness. Common risk factors for TB transmission in the target group were malnutrition, cigarette use, living in crowded conditions, illiteracy, and poverty.