Table 2 Univariate and multivariate regression analysis assessing risk factors for patient diagnostic delay > 3 weeks

Age (years)

1 (0.98; 1.02)

1.03 (1; 1.06)

Female gender

1.52 (0.74; 3.13)

1.72 (0.68; 4.39)

 Italian

1

1

 African

1.66 (0.61;4.50)

2.91 (0.62; 13.60)

 South-American

1.25 (0.39;4.01)

1.54 (0.33; 7.15)

 Asian

1.79 (0.65;4.90)

1.48 (0.33; 6.56)

 Eastern European

1.98 (0.65;6.04)

3.19 (0.64; 15.76)

Living in Italy for < 5 years

2.46 (1.03;5.87)

3.47 (1.09; 11.01)

 ≥10,000 €

1

1

 <10,000 €

0.930 (0.43;2)

1.21 (0.47; 3.14)

 No source of income

1.89 (0.64;5.58)

2.84 (0.53; 15.24)

 Living with others

1

 Living with family

1.14 (0.53;2.47)

 Living alone

0.47 (0.14;1.54)

 University degree

1

 Primary/secondary school degree

1.50 (0.38;5.88)

 High school diploma

1.00 (0.26;3.92)

 Unemployed

1

 Employed/Retired

0.82 (0.20;3.44)

 Student

0.50 (0.07;3.55)

Comorbidities

0.79 (0.34;1.80)

0.95 (0.33; 2.70)

Social conditions

1.61 (0.41;6.30)

1.50 (0.27; 8.25)

History of potential exposure

0.68 (0.30;1.54)

0.61 (0.22; 1.71)

Extra-pulmonary TB

1.36 (0.63;2.94)

1.43 (0.51; 4.03)

Absence of respiratory symptoms^a

0.96 (0.46;2.03)

1.38 (0.53; 3.61)^a

First assessment by General Practitioner

0.93 (0.45;1.88)

0.63 (0.24; 1.64)

 Underestimation of symptoms

1.47 (0.65;3.34)

3.43 (0.98; 12.04)

 Fear of consequences

0.87 (0.43;1.77)

1.01 (0.34; 2.98)

 Barriers to healthcare access

1.02 (0.50;2.10)

1.35 (0.49; 3.74)

Bad TB knowledge

1.17 (0.57;2.40)

1.23 (0.48; 3.19)

Uncorrect beliefs about TB

0.78 (0.38;1.57)

0.59 (0.23; 1.51)