title: Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of tuberculosis in the elderly: a case control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes between older and younger tuberculosis (TB) patients in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 271 younger (20-64 years old at diagnosis) and 199 older (≥65 years) TB patients who had been newly diagnosed and treated at Chonnam National University Hospital from May 2008 to August 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dyspnea and comorbid medical conditions were more frequent and positive TB culture rates were higher in older TB patients. In chest computed tomography (CT) scans of pulmonary TB patients, older patients were less likely to have micronodules (<7 mm in diameter), nodules (<30 mm in diameter), masses (>30 mm in diameter), and cavities compared with younger patients, but were more likely to have consolidations. Incidence of adverse drug reactions did not differ between the two groups, except for severe gastrointestinal disorders. There were no significant differences in favorable treatment outcomes between younger and older TB patients (97% vs. 94%, respectively; p = 0.251).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older TB patients had more frequent dyspnea and less frequent active TB findings on chest CT. Treatment success and adverse drug reaction rates were similar in older and younger TB patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea. yskwon@jnu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Yong Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Su Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: In Jae
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Kyu Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yu Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents