Objective  To analyze the characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients complicated with diabetes and the factors influencing treatment outcome in Gansu province and provide evidence for TB prevention and control in Gansu.

Methods The epidemiological information of the pulmonary TB patients complicated with diabetes in Gansu from 2018 to 2021 were collected from National Tuberculosis Information Management System for a descriptive analysis. The characteristics of pulmonary TB patients complicated with diabetes were compared with those of the patients with only pulmonary TB. The factors influencing the treatment outcomes of pulmonary TB patients complicated with diabetes were analyzed.

Results In the past four years, a total of 26820 pulmonary TB patients and 988 pulmonary TB patients complicated with diabetes were registered in Gansu. The proportions of pulmonary TB patients complicated with diabetes in men (χ²=15.591, P <0.001), in retired personnel (χ²=221.469, P <0.001), in those from referral sources (χ²=1121.323, P <0.001), in those aged ≥55 years (χ²=310.556, P <0.001), in retreated patients (χ²=29.031, P<0.001), in those with positive pathogenic results (χ²=232.277, P<0.001), and in those under full supervision and management (χ²=9.828, P=0.007) were significantly higher than those in the patients with only pulmonary TB, the differences were significant. The proportion of successful treatment in the patients complicated with diabetes was significantly lower than that in the patients with only pulmonary TB, the difference was significant (χ²=47.193, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in the proportions of the patients in different ethnic groups (χ²=2.859, P=0.091), the patients in floating and non-floating populations (χ²=0.016, P=0.931), the patients with health care seeking delay and without-health care seeking delay (χ²=3.617, P=0.059). In terms of influencing factor on the treatment outcome of pulmonary TB complicated with diabetes, the proportions of the patients aged ≥65 years (χ²=10.688, P=0.014), the patients with positive pathogenic results (χ²=9.440, P=0.002), and critically patients (χ²=13.004, P <0.001) were significantly higher than those in the patients with successful treatment, the differences were significant; Multivariate regression analysis showed that compared with the patients aged ＜45 years, the patients aged ≥65 years had higher risk for adverse outcomes after treatment odds ratio (OR)=2.394, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002–5.721; Compared with the pathogen negative patients, the pathogen positive patients had higher risk for adverse outcomes after treatment (OR=4.295, 95%CI: 1.709–10.796); Compared with non-critical patients, critical patients had higher risk of adverse outcomes (OR=2.120, 95%CI: 1.193–3.767).

Conclusion In pulmonary TB patients complicated with diabetes in Gansu, the proportions of men, those with positive pathogenic results, those with re-treatment and those aged ≥55 years were high, Risk factors resulting in adverse treatment outcome included older age, pathogenic positivity and critically illness. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of co-prevalence of TB and diabetes.