The relationship between vitamin D levels and clinical symptoms and lesion size in chest radiographs of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus

Vitamin D acts as an immunomodulator, enhancing the body’s immune function. A deficiency of vitamin D in patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) along with diabetes mellitus (DM) can lead to increased morbidity and mortality from the disease. This study aimed to explore the link between vitamin D levels, clinical manifestations, and the extent of chest X-ray lesions in TB patients who also deal with DM. This research is a cross-sectional study that involves pulmonary TB patients with concurrent DM conditions conducted from September to October 2024. The study measured serum vitamin D levels, evaluated clinical symptoms, and assessed the extent of chest X-ray lesions. Data analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test. The study included 40 individuals, with 60% aged between 41 and 59 years, and showed a 65% prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. A significant link was found between vitamin D deficiency and extensive lesions (p<0.05). Similarly, vitamin D deficiency was significantly correlated with the severity of symptoms (p<0.05). Vitamin D levels are related to the extent of lesions and clinical symptoms of pulmonary TB patients with comorbid DM.