Hospital Admissions for Tuberculosis in an Indian Metropolitan City

Tuberculosis is one of the most common infectious disease among adults in India. This study aims to evaluate the various causes for hospital admissions in tuberculosis and to study the clinical profile of these patients. Study design: Observational study. Methodology: 100 consecutive patients admitted for tuberculosis in the chest ward of a tertiary care hospital were included in the study. Clinical profile of the patients was recorded and analysed using SPSS, version no.22 and Microsoft Excel 2013. Results: 86 % of the patients were in the age group of 15-64 yrs. , average age being 40.5 yrs. and male: female ratio was 2: 1. The indications for hospitalization were based on clinical evaluation of the patient, for investigations and further work-up, due to some adverse drug reactions, and for various socio- economic reasons.43 % of the patients were admitted at the time of initial diagnosis, 43 % were admitted during the course of treatment for tuberculosis and 14 % were admitted within two yrs. of completing treatment. A microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis was established in 55 % of the patients. HIV was a major co-morbidity in these patients. Lung cancer was one of the major causes of an initial false diagnosis of tuberculosis. Average length of hospital stay was 8.8 days, and mortality rate was 15 %. Conclusion: It is necessary to take all the efforts possible to establish a microbiological or pathological diagnosis of tuberculosis in order to avoid false diagnoses.