Tuberculosis-Diabetes co-morbidity

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries

• In 2014, 9.6 million estimated TB cases and 1.5 million deaths
• South Africa is the 3rd highest TB incidence in the world with 834 per 100 000 (WHO, 2015)
• 318 000 cases notified in 2014 (WHO, 2015).

TB is fueled by different medical, social, and economic factors

• HIV
• Poverty
• Malnutrition
• Overcrowding and many others

Diabetes Mellitus is a major public health problem.

• Type 2 diabetes accounting >90% of DM cases.
• The insidious and initially asymptomatic nature of the disease results in persons not seeking early medical attention (30-85% of cases of type 2 diabetes are undiagnosed).
• At diagnosis, approximately 20% of patients will have complications of the disease.
• Effects of urbanization and an unhealthy lifestyle are important contributors to the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes
• According to IDF Diabetic Atlas 2015, South Africa has about 2.3 million people with Diabetes
• TB prevalence amongst DM patients is high (10%)
• The incidence of multidrug resistance TB has been reported to be on the rise among DM patients