Tuberculosis and Comorbidities: An Overview

Comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional diseases occurring along with a primary disease in an individual. Interactions between multiple diseases in a patient can influence the severity and progression of one another. The presence of comorbid conditions can lead to atypical symptoms can delay or complicate the diagnosis, treatment, and management of the primary condition. Comorbidities can be due to a chance occurrence between two conditions, overlapping or common risk factors, or a third condition causing both the conditions. Awareness of the common comorbidities and early diagnosis and management of comorbidities is essential to improve the outcome of a disease. Some of the most common comorbidities in tuberculosis (TB) include HIV/AIDS, diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, anemia, tobacco use, chronic respiratory diseases (such as bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung cancer, interstitial lung diseases), chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer involving any organ, alcohol/substance abuse, autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and mental illness. There may be multiple comorbid conditions (multimorbidity) in a patient with TB. Previous studies show a prevalence of comorbidity in TB ranging from 8% to 74%. Healthcare providers should be aware of these comorbidities when diagnosing and treating TB, as they require an integrated and careful approach to management. All patients diagnosed with TB should be screened for comorbidities.