Publication date: Dec 07, 2024

To investigate the differences in clinical, radiological and laboratory parameters between elderly and young patients with newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Vietnam. This retrospective analysis included all patients hospitalised with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis with acid-fast bacilli-positive smear. Clinical symptoms, laboratory results and chest X-ray findings were collected using a standardised questionnaire. Elderly was defined as those patients aged 65 years and older. A total of 183 patients diagnosed with new acid-fast bacilli-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were included in this study, with a mean age of 56. 2 +/- 16. 3 years (minimum = 18 and maximum = 87 years). Seventy-seven participants were aged ≥65 years, accounting for 42. 1% of participants. A total of 147 (80. 3%) patients were male, and the sex ratio of male/female was 4. 1. Night sweats were statistically more frequent among younger patients (34. 9% vs. 20. 8%, p = 0. 04), whereas muscle and joint pain were more predominant among the elderly (7. 6% vs. 22. 1%, p = 0. 01). A proportion of 67. 0% of younger patients and 63. 6% of the elderly group were bilaterally affected. Cavitation lesions were significantly more frequent in the younger group (55. 7% vs. 39. 0%, p = 0. 03), whereas pulmonary fibrosis occurred more frequently in elderly patients (29. 3% vs. 45. 4%, p = 0. 02). No other significant differences in clinical symptoms, laboratory results and chest X-ray findings were observed. These findings underscore the importance of considering age-related variations in the clinical and radiological presentation of tuberculosis, which can guide tailored approaches in diagnosis, management and treatment strategies for different age groups.

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