Abstract
BACKGROUND
Current strategies for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pleural TB have been inadequate, several challenges and issues related with pleural TB have been reported.
AIM
To summarize the main features of pleural tuberculosis (TB) and determine the risk factors in treatment delay.
DESIGN
Retrospective analysis of hospital records.
METHODS
Consecutive confirmed TB patients with pleural effusion were enrolled in the study. Demographic and epidemiological data were collected from electronic medical records. Treatment delay duration was stratified into two categories: <30 days and ≥30 days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors for the delay.
RESULTS
From July 2011 to September 2015, a total of 723 patients were enrolled, 72.1% of patients had pulmonary TB, 8.9% had empyema, 8.9% were multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Multivariate analysis revealed that MDR-TB (odds ratios (OR) = 2.485, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.347, 4.587), pulmonary TB (OR = 1.452, 95% CI 1.010, 2.087) and empyema (OR = 4.355, 95% CI 2.185, 8.680) were significant risk factors for treatment delay, while fever (OR= 0.519, 95% CI 0.362, 0.744) as well as pleural protein (≥45 g/l) (OR=0.470, 95% CI 0.332, 0.667) were the protective factors.
CONCLUSION
MDR-TB, pulmonary TB and empyema were significant risk factors for treatment delay, while fever and high pleural protein were protective factors. Tuberculous empyema remains a major problem in China, adequate awareness should be created for the management.
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