Clinical and Radiological Profile of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Elderly People Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) poses distinct diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the elderly due to subtle clinical signs, weakened immunity, and multiple coexisting health conditions. This observational study, conducted over 15 months at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India, included 120 patients aged 60 and above diagnosed with EPTB. The research examined clinical features, laboratory findings, comorbidities, and treatment history to identify patterns and risk factors. Disseminated tuberculosis (TB) was the most frequent form, with common symptoms including altered mental status and reduced functional capacity. The findings underscore the importance of age-adapted diagnostic approaches and comprehensive care strategies to enhance outcomes in older adults. In this study, the most frequently observed laboratory abnormalities among elderly patients with EPTB were hyponatremia, hypoalbuminemia, and anemia. This elevated occurrence suggests a need for further investigation through larger studies to determine the underlying cause. Comorbidities were present in 71.6% of cases, with diabetes mellitus being the most commonly seen in 56.7% of patients. Furthermore, 31.6% had multiple coexisting conditions, most frequently a combination of diabetes and hypertension (22.5%). These comorbidities may influence disease progression and complicate treatment response, underscoring the need for routine screening and appropriate management of associated health conditions in all TB patients.