Table 1 Demographic characteristics of patients with tuberculous spondylitis and culture negative pyogenic spondylitis

Age, mean ± S.D (years)

65.9 (±14.4)

59.2 (±20.0)

0.017

Sex (male, %)

32 (45.1 %)

37 (39.4 %)

0.462

 Hypertension

34 (47.9 %)

24 (25.5 %)

0.003

 Diabetes mellitus

17 (23.9 %)

16 (17.0 %)

0.271

 Chronic kidney disease

4 (5.6 %)

3 (3.2 %)

0.465^‡

 Congestive heart failure

0

2 (2.1 %)

0.507^‡

 Liver cirrhosis

6 (8.5 %)

1 (1.1 %)

0.043^‡

 Solid tumor

7 (9.9 %)

2 (2.1 %)

0.040^‡

 Hematologic malignancy

1 (1.4 %)

0

0.430^‡

Concomitant corticosteroid use

2 (2.8 %)

1 (1.1 %)

0.578

Epidural procedure within 1 year

19 (26.8 %)

9 (9.6 %)

0.004

Foreign body in affected vertebrae ^a

8 (11.3 %)

3 (3.2 %)

0.057^‡

Vertebroplasty cement in affected vertebrae

7 (9.9 %)

13 (13.8 %)

0.439

Previous bacteremia within 3 months

3 (4.2 %)

0

0.078^‡

History of tuberculosis

7 (9.9 %)

21 (22.3 %)

0.034

Concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis

0

30 (31.9 %)

<0.001

Concurrent extrapulmonary tuberculosis^†

0

15 (16.0 %)

<0.001