Magnitude of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and its associated factors among TB suspected patients at Wolkite University specialized hospital in central Ethiopia.

The prevalence of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is on the rise in Ethiopia, necessitating effective management and preventive strategies. A crucial aspect of combating EPTB is the continuous identification of its contributing factors and monitoring its prevalence. So, this study aims to assess the magnitude of EPTB and identify associated factors among tuberculosis-suspected patients at Wolkite University Specialized Hospital in Central Ethiopia. An institution-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to August 31, 2024, in Wolkite University Specialized Hospital (WKUSH) in Ethiopia. A total of 400 presumptive EPTB cases were included in the study using a convenience sampling technique. Samples of body fluid like cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, and pus (abscess) were collected and processed by Xpert MTB/RIF assay. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, residence, marital status, and clinical data like HIV status, history of pulmonary tuberculosis, and other comorbidities. Data were entered through Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS software version 23. Descriptive statistics like frequency and percentage were calculated. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to determine the presence of a statistically significant association between independent variables and EPTB status. Statistical significance was declared at p-value ≤ 0.05 at 95% confidence interval. About 29.5% (118/400) of the participants were HIV positive, while about 33.7% (135/400) of the total participants had chronic illnesses other than HIV/AIDS. Our study found that the overall prevalence of EPTB detected by the Xpert MTB/RIF assay was 18.8% (75/400) among all presumptive EPTB cases. The most common forms of EPTB identified were pleural tuberculosis (23%), followed by TB lymphadenitis (20%) and bone tuberculosis (20%). Participants who were HIV positive (AOR = 16.3, 95% CI 8.5-33.0) and those with a prior history of pulmonary TB (AOR = 5.8, 95% CI 2.5-13.2) were more likely to be EPTB positive compared to HIV-negative participants and those without a history of pulmonary TB. The overall prevalence of EPTB is high in Wolkite University Specialized Hospital. EPTB were found to be significantly associated with being HIV positive and having a history of pulmonary TB. So, early screening for EPTB, along with evaluating the factors associated with the risk of EPTB in suspected patients, is essential for prompt treatment. This approach is crucial to reduce the severity, mortality, and morbidity associated with the disease.