title: Risk factors related with mortality in patient with pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is steadily decreasing in South Korea. However, PTB is a disease with relatively high mortality and morbidity rates throughout Korea. Although there are many studies and statistics about the risk factors of PTB mortality in many countries, there are only a limited number of domestic papers on this topic. The aim of this study is to determine predictive factors for mortality among in-hospital patients associated with PTB.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2006 to January 2011, we reviewed medical records of 2,122 adult patients diagnosed with tuberculosis at a single tertiary hospital in a suburban area. In this study period, 960 patients were diagnosed with PTB by positive Acid fast bacilli smear and/or mycobacterial culture of the respiratory specimen. We compared the groups of patients deceased and patients discharged alive with PTB. The number of dead patients was 82 (47 males, 35 females).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mortality was significantly associated with increased values of white blood cells (WBC), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), numbers of involved lung field, and length of hospitalization. Also, it was associated with the decreased values of hemoglobin, lymphocyte, sodium, albumin, and cholesterol. Furthermore, admission through the emergency department, initial intensive care unit admission, and drug resistant PTB affected mortality in PTB patients. Independent predictors associated with PTB mortality are BUN, initial intensive care unit care, and admission during treatment of tuberculosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, mortality of pulmonary tuberculosis was related with parameters associated with nutritional status, disease severity at the time of admission, and drug resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Chong Whan
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shun Nyung
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seok Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myoung Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kye Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Suk Joong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Won Yeon
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Mortality; Risk Factors; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary