Prognostic factors in patients with miliary tuberculosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complication has long been considered a factor associated with poor prognosis in patients with miliary tuberculosis. However, few reports exist on the prognostic factors of miliary tuberculosis including those complicating ARDS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively examined prognoses and other clinical information obtained from medical records of a total of 68 patients diagnosed with miliary tuberculosis. Clinical findings were compared between patients who died within three months (non-survivor group) and those who survived beyond three months (survivor group), and risk factors for death within three months of diagnosis were examined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen of 68 patients diagnosed with miliary tuberculosis died within three months. Most patients were aged 60 years or older (63 patients; 91.2%), with a peak in the 80 s (32 patients; 47.1%). Of the 68 patients with miliary tuberculosis, 13 (19%) had ARDS. The risk of death within three months increased with increasing age and ARDS onset during the disease course. The results of multivariate analysis revealed that, in addition to age (odd ratio (OR): 15.5) and the presence/absence of ARDS (OR: 12.0), consciousness disturbance (OR: 81.53) and high BUN levels (OR: 5.71) were independent factors for death within three months. CONCLUSION: In patients with miliary tuberculosis, old age, ARDS, consciousness disturbance, and high BUN levels were factors associated with poor prognosis.