Tuberculosis infection in the elderly versus in the young adult

Abstract

Objective. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease in which the clinical course is influenced by age-related changes in the respiratory and immune systems. Methods. Cross sectional retrospective analysis of patients admitted with the diagnosis of tuberculosis between 2011 and 2016, comparing patients with ages under and above 65 years old. Results. Inclusion of 591 patients, 16% of the individuals being over 65 years. Predominance of male gender, with white race preponderance in the elderly group (84%). Disease site at presentation was predominant-ly lung (74%), followed by disseminated disease (14%). As expected, the mortality registered was higher in the older population (20 vs 4%). Conclusions. TB remains a less frequent infection in the elderly. The infection characteristics are similar in both groups however with a more atypical presentation in the elderly.