A case control study of risk factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in romania: experience at a clinical hospital of pneumology

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health issue in Romania. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral risk factors for TB among hospitalized patients in Romania. METHODS: This is a case-control study conducted between March 1st 2014 and March 30th 2015 at Leon Daniello Clinical Hospital of Pneumology, Cluj Napoca. A total of 150 TB patients defined as “cases” were matched for age, sex and county of residence to 150 controls selected from patients attending the same hospital with respiratory diseases other than TB. Data collection was obtained through patient interviews using a structured questionnaire. Factors potentially associated with TB infection were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Factors independently associated with TB were illiteracy (OR=2.42, 95% CI 1.09–5.37), unemployment (OR=2.08, 95% CI 1.23–3.53), low household income (OR=4.12, 95% CI 2.53–6.71), smoking (more than 20 cigarettes per day) (OR=2.12, 95% CI 1.20–3.74), poor knowledge of TB (OR=3.46, 95% CI 1.97–6.07), presence of TB patient in household (OR=4.35, 95% CI 1.42–13.36), prior TB treatment (OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.93–2.5) and diabetes (OR=3.32, 95% CI 1.36–8.08). CONCLUSION: This study provided useful information that might help to develop and adapt effective policies for TB control in Romania.