Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background: There is dearth of data on the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among diabetic patients. Objective: To determine prevalence and predictors of latent tuberculosis infection among diabetic patients. Methods: Type 2 diabetic patients attending medical outpatient clinic in a Specialist Hospital in Nigeria and apparently healthy controls matched for age and sex were recruited. Socio demographic and clinical data were obtained through a pro forma. Blood specimen collected into the QuantiFERON tubes for measurement of interferon gamma were processed, analysed and read according to the manufacturers' instruction. Glycosylated haemoglobin and total cholesterol done within the preceding month were recorded. Results: Sixty type 2 diabetic patients and 60 controls similar in age, sex and social class distribution were recruited. Mean interferon gamma was significantly higher among diabetic patients compared with control, (0.36+ 0.24IU/ml and 0.19+ 0.02IU/ml, p value < 0.05). Twenty two(37%) and 11(20%) type 2 diabetic patients and control had positive QuantiFERON results respectively,p value =0.002. Latent tuberculosis infection in DM patients was associated with degree of glycemic control and smoking, p value was less than 0.05 each. Conclusion: The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection is high among type 2 diabetic patients.