A hospital based study on evaluation of causes of death in 52 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

PURPOSE: To examine the clinical problems of died cases with pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: Clinical findings of 52 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, who had died in our hospital between April 2005 to March 2007, were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age was 72.3 10.6 years old, 9 cases (17.3 %) were relapsed, and 35 cases (67.3%) had cavity on the chest X-ray. 34 cases (65.4%) were PS4 and none was PS0 or PS1 on admission. Complications were malignancy in 11 cases, diabetes mellitus in 10 cases, and respiratory diseases in 6 cases. 15 cases (28.8%) were treated with drugs including INH, RFP and PZA, 14 cases (26.9%) with drugs including INH and RFP, 16 cases (30.8%) with the other drugs, and 7 cases (13.5%) were not able to be administered any drug. 35 cases (67.3%) died of tuberculosis and 17 cases (32.7%) died of non-tuberculous conditions. CONCLUSION: Many died cases were under very poor general condition, needed frequent care, had many kind of complications and had difficulty with standard treatment on admission. Tuberculous death were observed highly, but death by complications were observed in many cases. It is necessary to control complications and enlighten society and docters about importance of early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis continuously.