Risk Factors for Tuberculosis in Elderly: Prevalence and Population-attributable Risk.

Introduction: Undernourishment, alcohol use, smoking, diabetes, and HIV are the known risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) with a high population-attributable fraction. Of the total TB cases notified in India, one-fifth are among the elderly, and malnutrition is the most common cause. To estimate the...

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Published in:Indian Journal of Community Medicine Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 568 - 573
Main Authors: Ravichandran, Roopa Sri, Subramanian, Sadhana, Lakshminarayanan, Subitha, Senthilkumar, Gandhipuram Periyasamy, Chinnakali, Palanivel
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd May/Jun2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: May/Jun2026
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        atl: Risk Factors for Tuberculosis in Elderly: Prevalence and Population-attributable Risk.
      aug:
        au:
          Ravichandran, Roopa Sri
          Subramanian, Sadhana
          Lakshminarayanan, Subitha
          Senthilkumar, Gandhipuram Periyasamy
          Chinnakali, Palanivel
        affil: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
      sug:
        subj:
          Tuberculosis Epidemiology
          Tuberculosis Risk Factors
          Risk Assessment
          Malnutrition
          Alcohol Drinking
          Smoking
          Diabetes Mellitus
          HIV Infections
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Descriptive Statistics
          Funding Source
          Prevalence
          Cross Sectional Studies
          India
          Scales
          Food Security
          Confidence Intervals
          Early Diagnosis
          Multivariate Analysis
          Multiple Regression
          Data Analysis Software
          Health Behavior
          Questionnaires
          Sociodemographic Factors
          C-Reactive Protein
          Anthropometry
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: Introduction: Undernourishment, alcohol use, smoking, diabetes, and HIV are the known risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) with a high population-attributable fraction. Of the total TB cases notified in India, one-fifth are among the elderly, and malnutrition is the most common cause. To estimate the prevalence of nutritional, behavioral, environmental, and clinical risk factors for TB among the elderly (>60 years) in selected rural areas of Puducherry, India. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among four villages of Puducherry in 2023. Risk factors for TB were captured as reported by the participant. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) Scale and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria were used to assess malnutrition. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was used to assess food insecurity. Results: A total of 214 elderly were included; the mean (standard deviation) age was 68 (8) years. The prevalence of malnutrition using GLIM criteria and MNA was 20.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 15.2%–26.0%) and 11.2% (95% CI; 7.6%–16.2%), respectively. The prevalence of other risk factors like alcohol use, tobacco use, overcrowding, contact history, and diabetes was 6.1%, 30.2%, 46.2%, 2.8%, and 31.8%, respectively. Food insecurity was reported in 12.6% of the households. The population-attributable fraction was the highest for malnutrition by GLIM criteria (15%), followed by diabetes (11%). Conclusion: One in three had more than three risk factors, and nine in ten had at least one risk factor for TB. Screening known risk factors for TB in the elderly helps in the early detection of TB and prevention.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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