Background:Differences in rural and urban settings could account for distinct characteristics in the epidemiology of tuberculosis(TB).We comparatively studied epidemiological features of TB and helminth co-infections ...Background:Differences in rural and urban settings could account for distinct characteristics in the epidemiology of tuberculosis(TB).We comparatively studied epidemiological features of TB and helminth co-infections in adult patients from rural and urban settings of Tanzania.Methods:Adult patients(≥18 years)with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB were consecutively enrolled into two cohorts in Dar es Salaam,with~4.4 million inhabitants(urban),and Ifakara in the sparsely populated Kilombero District with~400000 inhabitants(rural).Clinical data were obtained at recruitment.Stool and urine samples were subjected to diagnose helminthiases using Kato-Katz,Baermann,urine filtration,and circulating cathodic antigen tests.Differences between groups were assessed byχ2,Fisher’s exact,and Wilcoxon rank sum tests.Logistic regression models were used to determine associations.Results:Between August 2015 and February 2017,668 patients were enrolled,460(68.9%)at the urban and 208(31.1%)at the rural site.Median patient age was 35 years(interquartile range[IQR]:27-41.5 years),and 454(68%)were males.Patients from the rural setting were older(median age 37 years vs.34 years,P=0.003),had a lower median body mass index(17.5 kg/m2 vs.18.5 kg/m2,P<0.001),a higher proportion of recurrent TB cases(9%vs.1%,P<0.001),and in HIV/TB co-infected patients a lower median CD4 cell counts(147 cells/μl vs.249 cells/μl,P=0.02)compared to those from urban Tanzania.There was no significant difference in frequencies of HIV infection,diabetes mellitus,and haemoglobin concentration levels between the two settings.The overall prevalence of helminth co-infections was 22.9%(95%confidence interval[CI]:20.4-27.0%).The significantly higher prevalence of helminth infections at the urban site(25.7%vs.17.3%,P=0.018)was predominantly driven by Strongyloides stercoralis(17.0%vs.4.8%,P<0.001)and Schistosoma mansoni infection(4.1%vs.16.4%,P<0.001).Recurrent TB was associated with living in a rural setting(adjusted odds ratio[aOR]:3.97,95%CI:1.16-13.67)and increasing age(aOR:1.06,95%CI:1.02-1.10).Conclusions:Clinical characteristics and helminth co-infections pattern differ in TB patients in urban and rural Tanzania.The differences underline the need for setting-specific,tailored public health interventions to improve clinical management of TB and comorbidities.展开更多
基金This work was supported by funding from the Rudolf Geigy Foundation(Basel,Switzerland).
文摘Background:Differences in rural and urban settings could account for distinct characteristics in the epidemiology of tuberculosis(TB).We comparatively studied epidemiological features of TB and helminth co-infections in adult patients from rural and urban settings of Tanzania.Methods:Adult patients(≥18 years)with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB were consecutively enrolled into two cohorts in Dar es Salaam,with~4.4 million inhabitants(urban),and Ifakara in the sparsely populated Kilombero District with~400000 inhabitants(rural).Clinical data were obtained at recruitment.Stool and urine samples were subjected to diagnose helminthiases using Kato-Katz,Baermann,urine filtration,and circulating cathodic antigen tests.Differences between groups were assessed byχ2,Fisher’s exact,and Wilcoxon rank sum tests.Logistic regression models were used to determine associations.Results:Between August 2015 and February 2017,668 patients were enrolled,460(68.9%)at the urban and 208(31.1%)at the rural site.Median patient age was 35 years(interquartile range[IQR]:27-41.5 years),and 454(68%)were males.Patients from the rural setting were older(median age 37 years vs.34 years,P=0.003),had a lower median body mass index(17.5 kg/m2 vs.18.5 kg/m2,P<0.001),a higher proportion of recurrent TB cases(9%vs.1%,P<0.001),and in HIV/TB co-infected patients a lower median CD4 cell counts(147 cells/μl vs.249 cells/μl,P=0.02)compared to those from urban Tanzania.There was no significant difference in frequencies of HIV infection,diabetes mellitus,and haemoglobin concentration levels between the two settings.The overall prevalence of helminth co-infections was 22.9%(95%confidence interval[CI]:20.4-27.0%).The significantly higher prevalence of helminth infections at the urban site(25.7%vs.17.3%,P=0.018)was predominantly driven by Strongyloides stercoralis(17.0%vs.4.8%,P<0.001)and Schistosoma mansoni infection(4.1%vs.16.4%,P<0.001).Recurrent TB was associated with living in a rural setting(adjusted odds ratio[aOR]:3.97,95%CI:1.16-13.67)and increasing age(aOR:1.06,95%CI:1.02-1.10).Conclusions:Clinical characteristics and helminth co-infections pattern differ in TB patients in urban and rural Tanzania.The differences underline the need for setting-specific,tailored public health interventions to improve clinical management of TB and comorbidities.
