Table 1 Demographics, clinical and microbiological characteristics of study patients stratified by TB diagnostic group

Demographics

 Median age (IQR)

37

36

35

38

NS

(31-44)

(32-41)

(29-44)

(31-45)

 Female (%)

241 (53)

41 (50)

63 (55)

123 (52)

NS

 Median CD4 count (cells/μL, IQR)

55

41^a

43 ^a

71*

<0.0001

(18-153)

(15-88)

(17-128)

(24-180)

 Previous TB (%)

95 (21)

12(15)

26(23)

57(22)

NS

Clinical features

 Cough >2 wks (%)

446 (98)

82(100)

113(98)

251(97)

NS

 Drenching night sweats (%)

299 (65)

51(62)

81(70)

167(56)

NS

 Weight loss (%)

361 (79)

68(83)

92(80)

201(77)

NS

 Fever > 38 °C (%)

334 (73)

68 (82)^a

90 (78)^a

176(68)*

<0.005

 CXR compatible with TB (%)

252 (55)

61(74)

76(66)

115(44)

<0.0001

 Commenced on TB Treatment (%)

218 (48)

81(99)^a

115(100)^a

22(8)*

<0.0001

TB treatment based on:

n = 218

n = 81

n = 115

n = 22

 Empirically (%)

87(40)

11(14)^a

60(52)^a

16(73)*

<0.0001

 LAM positive grades 1 and 2^b

104^b (48)

50(62)*

48(42)*

6(27)*

<0.005

 SSM

16(7)

11(14)*

5(4)*

0(0)

<0.005

 Culture

11(5)

9(11)*

2(2)*

0(0)

<0.005

TB symptoms at 2 months for those on treatment

n = 218

n = 81

n = 115

n = 22

 Improved TB symptoms on treatment at 2 month follow-up

137(63)

54(66)*

83(72)*

0(0)

0.003

 Died of TB before 2 months follow-up

61(28)

19(23)^a

32(28)^a

10(45)

0.023

 Lost to follow-up on treatment

2(1)

1(1)

0(0)

1(5)

NS