title: Hyperglycemia is associated with increased risk of patient delay in pulmonary tuberculosis in rural areas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Excessive time between the first presentation of symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and diagnosis contributes to ongoing transmission and increased risk of infection in the community, as well as to increased disease severity and higher mortality. People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a higher risk of developing PTB. However, the effect of T2DM on delayed diagnosis of PTB is not fully understood. This study investigated the effects of hyperglycemia (diabetes and prediabetes) and other factors on PTB patient delay in a rural area of China.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present community-based investigation, PTB patients aged ≥16 years newly diagnosed at county tuberculosis dispensaries were recruited consecutively between September 2011 and December 2013. Fasting blood glucose was determined in all subjects, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect basic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2280 patients, 605 (26.5 %) had hyperglycemia. The median (interquartile range) time to seeking health care was 44 (59) days. Health care seeking was delayed in 1754 subjects, and hyperglycemia was independently associated with an increased probability (odds ratio 2.10; 95 % confidence interval 1.49-2.97) of patient delay in subjects aged ≥30 years. Other factors associated with patient delay were cough, night sweats, and lack of knowledge regarding typical tuberculosis symptoms. The onset of hemoptysis was negatively correlated with patient delay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient delay appears to be a serious problem in this rural area with a high prevalence of tuberculosis. Hyperglycemia is independently associated with an increased probability of patient delay, which, in turn, may result in more serious clinical manifestations.
authors: Institute of Human Nutrition, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
authors: Qiuzhen
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Human Nutrition, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
authors: Aiguo
authors: A
authors: Ma
authors: Institute of Human Nutrition, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
authors: Xiuxia
authors: X
authors: Han
authors: Linyi Chest Hospital, Linyi, China.
authors: Shanliang
authors: S
authors: Zhao
authors: Institute of Human Nutrition, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Cai
authors: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Frans J
authors: FJ
authors: Kok
authors: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Evert G
authors: EG
authors: Schouten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: community; determining factor; diabetes mellitus; infectious disease; odds ratio; 优势比; 传染病; 决定因素; 社区; 糖尿病