Table 1 Characteristics of the 137 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis enrolled in the study
Characteristic | N = 137 |
|---|---|
Female gender | 50 (36.5) |
Age (median [IQR]) | 40 [29, 56] |
Nationality | |
Italian | 42 (30.7) |
African | 31 (22.6) |
South-American | 17 (12.4) |
Asian | 27 (19.7) |
Eastern European | 20 (14.6) |
Years lived in Italy (N = 95) | |
<2 | 11 (11.6) |
2–5 | 20 (21.0) |
>5 | 49 (51.6) |
Housing conditions | |
Living with others | 46 (33.6) |
Living with family | 71 (51.8) |
Living alone | 20 (14.6) |
Have children | 84 (61.3) |
School degree | |
Primary school degree | 26 (19.0) |
Secondary school degree | 31 (22.6) |
High school diploma | 65 (47.4) |
University degree | 10 (7.3) |
Occupation | |
Unemployed | 10 (7.3) |
Employed/Retired | 117 (85.4) |
Student | 10 (7.3) |
Annual income | |
No income | 28 (20.4) |
<10,000 € | 42 (30.7) |
10,000–30,000 € per year | 42 (30.7) |
>30,000 per year | 6 (4.4) |
HIV and other comorbidities | |
HIV infection | 10 (7.3) |
Immunosuppressive therapies | 5 (3.6) |
Haematological diseases | 2 (1.5) |
Chronic kidney disease | 2 (1.5) |
Neoplasms | 6 (4.4) |
Cirrhosis | 4 (2.9) |
Diabetes | 10 (7.3) |
Social conditions | |
Alcohol abuse | 3 (2.2) |
Drug abuse | 2 (1.5) |
Homelessness | 3 (2.2) |
Past imprisonment | 5 (3.6) |
History of potential exposure | |
Family history | 7 (5.1) |
Professional exposure | 3 (2.2) |
Contact with TB patient | 8 (5.8) |
Site of involvement | |
Extra-pulmonary | 38 (27.7) |
Pulmonary | 78 (56.9) |
Pulmonary and extra-pulmonary | 20 (14.6) |
Case Definition | |
New Case | 117 (85.4) |
Relapse or previous failure | 14 (10.2) |
Diagnosis | |
Culture | 82 (59.8) |
Microscopy | 13 (9.5) |
Molecular test | 10 (7.3) |
Histology | 12 (8.8) |
Clinical | 20 (14.6) |
Respiratory symptomsa | 88 (67.2) |
Healthcare structure of first assessmenta | |
General practitioner | 55 (42.0) |
Specialist consultation | 25 (19.2) |
Emergency Department | 39 (29.8) |
Other | 11 (8.5) |
Reasons for delaya,b | |
Underestimation of symptoms | 98 (74.8) |
Fear of consequences | 54 (41.2) |
Barriers to healthcare access | 49 (37.4) |
Good TB knowledgea | 80 (61.1) |
Uncorrect beliefs about TBa | 76 (58) |