Evaluation of COVID 19 Cases among Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Analytical Study

Background: Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) are at significant risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe outcomes. Objective: To investigate clinical and laboratory variations, results, and risk factors related to co-infection between COVID-19 and TB. The effect of co-infection on the course and severity of the disease was estimated. Patients and Methods: 78 patients were included in a retrospective study at the Chest Diseases Departments of Police Hospitals in Cairo. They were split into two groups: Group I consisted of 30 patients who had both COVID-19 and TB, and Group II consisted of 48 patients who solely had COVID-19. Demographics, clinical symptoms, laboratory results, and other data were gathered. To compare the two groups and find any noteworthy differences, statistical analyses were conducted. Results: Neither the demographics nor the medical histories of the groups differed significantly. Nonetheless, the co-infected group experienced a higher prevalence of cough (P=0.02) and sore throat (P=0.04). Group I had higher systolic blood pressure (P=0.01), higher CRP levels (P=0.002), lower platelet counts (P=0.04), and considerably lower hemoglobin (P=0.02) and SpO₂ (P<0.001). Group I had a considerably greater mortality rate (46.7%) than Group II (18.8%) (P=0.01). Cough, sore throat, and CRP were found to be independent predictors of co-infection. Conclusion: TB and COVID-19 co-infection is linked to higher mortality, systemic inflammation, and severity. The dual burden of both infections may be caused by a common dysregulation of immune responses, requiring close clinical observation and specialized treatment approaches.