28 Apr 2025 • A comprehensive tuberculosis (TB) prevalence survey conducted across Tamil Nadu unveiled a concerning disparity: elderly individuals aged 60 and above had nearly three times the prevalence of microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (MCPTB) compared to younger adults.

Among 1,30,932 individuals screened, the crude prevalence of MCPTB per lakh was 447 among elderly and, with an adjusted prevalence of 482/lakh, whereas in adults under 60, crude and adjusted prevalence stood at 130 and 166 per lakh, respectively.

The adjusted prevalence ratio for MCPTB in the elderly population was 2.99. Male sex (aPR:2.54), undernutrition (aPR: 3.53), smoking (aPR: 1.94) and past history of TB (aPR: 2.26) further amplified the risk of TB in older adults.

These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted TB screening and intervention strategies focusing on the elderly population, particularly those with identified risk factors.

Source: IJMR | Read Full Story