Comparison of the nutritional status and lipid profile of tuberculosis patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary health care in Bandung

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) both are major global health problems. DM, primarily type 2 DM (T2DM) is often associated with obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and high cholesterol and is a risk factor for TB. Diabetes is also associated with poor TB treatment outcomes. Since Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) relies on host nutrients, lipids, and cholesterol to survive, more knowledge about the nutritional status and lipid profile of T2DM, TB, and TB-T2DM patients is needed in order to establish novel TB management strategies for TB-T2DM patients.Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the nutritional status and lipid profile of TB-T2DM, TB, and T2DM only patients using data collected from several Primary Health Cares in Bandung, Indonesia. In total, 77 TB-T2DM, TB only, and T2DM only patients treated at the Primary Health Care Centers in Bandung, Indonesia, were recruited.Results: BMI and the lipid profiles of the TB patients were significantly lower than those of T2DM patients (p<0.05). BMI and HDL levels were significantly lower in the TB-T2DM patients than those in T2DM patients (p<0.001 and p=0.04). Total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in TB compared to those in the TB-T2DM group (p=0.025).Conclusion: All lipid profiles showed a similar pattern with the T2DM without TB having the highest lipid levels, followed by TB-T2DM and TB patients.