Chest X-ray predicts cases of pulmonary tuberculosis among women of reproductive age with acute respiratory symptoms: A multi-center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence is increasing among women of reproductive age (WRA) in sub-Saharan Africa, yet undiagnosed and untreated cases remain rather high with serious health and socio-economic consequences. We aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of TB in WRA seeking health care for acute respiratory symptoms.

METHODS

We consecutively enrolled outpatient WRA with acute respiratory symptoms seeking care at four healthcare facilities in Ethiopia between July 2019 and December 2020. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and clinical information were collected using a structured questionnaire administered by trained nurses. Posteroanterior chest X-ray was performed in non-pregnant WRA and interpreted independently by two radiologists. Sputum samples were collected from all patients and tested for pulmonary TB using Xpert MTB/RIF and/or smear microscopy. Predictors of bacteriologically confirmed TB cases were determined using binary logistic regression, with clinically relevant variables included in the final Firth's multivariate-penalized logistic regression model.

RESULTS

We enrolled 577 participants, of whom 95 (16%) were pregnant, 67 (12%) were living with HIV, 512 (89%) had cough of less than 2 weeks, and 56 (12%) had chest-x-ray findings suggestive of TB. The Overall prevalence of TB was 3% (95% CI: 1.8%-4.7%) with no significant difference observed between patient groups categorized by duration of cough or HIV serostatus (P-value = 0.9999). In multivariable analysis, TB-suggestive CXR abnormality (AOR 18.83 [95% CI, 6.20-57.18]) and history of weight loss (AOR 3.91 [95% CI, 1.25-12.29]) were associated with bacteriologically-confirmed TB cases.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high TB prevalence among low-risk women of reproductive age with acute respiratory symptoms. Routine CXR may improve early case detection and thereby TB treatment outcomes.