Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was spread all over the world and was accepted as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Lungs are predominantly affected by tuberculosis and Covid-19. The objective of the study was to assess the clinical features of COVID-19 in active tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra-pulmonary) and to identify the radiological and laboratory picture of COVID 19 in patients with active tuberculosis. A cross sectional study was by the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, among patients of active tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra-pulmonary) presented to the General Outpatient Department(OPD) of the Respiratory Medicine Department. The questionnaire included questions on socio demographic profile, clinical features, comorbidities, clinical history, any substance abuse and laboratory investigations. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 21.0 while Chi- square test was used for categorical data analysis. The mean age of the study participants was 47.5±5.3 years (Range 18-72). Males constituted the larger group (59.38%) as compared to females (40.63%). The prevalence of COVID19/tuberculosis co-infection in the present study was 21.8%. Positive history of contact, bacterial culture, PCR and CBNAAT, use of drug, presence of cavity and pleural effusion on X Ray, showed all remarkably higher chances (p< 0.05) of developing co-infection. The prevalence of COVID19/tuberculosis co-infection in the present study was high. Significantly associated factors can help in identifying Covid 19 infection among tuberculosis patients. Therefore, it is recommended that screening for these factors should be done for all the tuberculosis patients coming for treatment and Covid 19 vaccination.
Jethani et al. (Sun,) studied this question.