[Epidemiological profile and diagnostic and evolutionary features of TB patients at the Diagnostic Centre for Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases in Settat, Morocco].

INTRODUCTION

tuberculosis is a public health problem in Morocco. This study aims to examine the epidemiological profile as well as the evolutionary and diagnostic features of tuberculosis in Settat, Morocco.

METHODS

we conducted a retrospective descriptive and analytical study of data from the medical records of TB patients managed at the Diagnostic Centre for Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases in Settat, Morocco from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019.

RESULTS

we identified 1270 cases of tuberculosis. Lung involvement was more common than extrapulmonary involvement. Ganglionic tuberculosis mainly occurred in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Severe forms included tuberculous meningitis (10 cases) and miliary tuberculosis (10 cases). Diagnosis was bacteriologically confirmed in the majority of patients (84.09%). Extreme ages and female sex were mainly affected by extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Recovery was reported in 35.12% of patients and its rate was higher in pulmonary TB patients than in extrapulmonary TB patients (62.18% vs 0.37%; P<0.001). Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (19.33% vs 10.81%; P<0.001) were mainly lost to follow-up. Death occurred to almost the same extent in patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (2.52% vs. 2.56%).

CONCLUSION

efforts on all fronts are still needed if the country is to achieve the goal of eliminating TB by 2030.