Clinical and lifestyle characteristics associated with older age among tuberculosis patients with diabetes in Bangladesh: An analytical cross-sectional study

ObjectiveStudies on the clinical and lifestyle characteristics of tuberculosis patients with diabetes mellitus in Bangladesh remain limited. This study compared the demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics between older and younger tuberculosis patients with diabetes mellitus.MethodsThis multicenter analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2024 in 18 centers of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh. Adult patients with a history of completed tuberculosis treatment and diabetes diagnosed >2 weeks after initiation of tuberculosis treatment were considered eligible. Among 393 eligible participants, all 80 patients aged ≥50 years were included. For balanced comparison, 80 participants aged <50 years were selected from the remaining eligible pool. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pretested semistructured questionnaire and checklist. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify characteristics independently associated with older age. Written informed consent was obtained, and ethical issues were maintained.ResultsMale patients were predominant in both older (80.0%) and younger (93.8%) tuberculosis patients with diabetes mellitus. Pulmonary tuberculosis was more common in younger patients (97.5%), while family history of diabetes (46.3%) and comorbidity (47.5%) were more common in older patients with diabetes mellitus. Moreover, occupation, body mass index category, physical inactivity, family history of diabetes, comorbidity, and type of tuberculosis were found to be significant (p < 0.05) between older and younger patients. In multivariable analysis, family history of diabetes (adjusted odds ratio = 3.873, p = 0.001) and pulmonary tuberculosis classification (adjusted odds ratio = 12.820, p = 0.003) remained independently associated with older age.ConclusionFamily history of diabetes and type of tuberculosis were found to be independently associated with older tuberculosis patients with diabetes mellitus. These findings may help inform age-sensitive screening, referral, and follow-up strategies for integrated tuberculosis-diabetes mellitus care; however, larger and more representative studies are warranted.