Characteristics of nine extra-pulmonary tuberculosis inpatients in nine designated tuberculosis hospitals, 2018−2020

  Objective  To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized patients with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in China, and provide scientific basis for the formulation of policies and measures for the prevention and treatment of extra-pulmonary TB.

  Methods  A retrospective survey was conducted in 9 designated tuberculosis hospitals selected in eastern, central and western China. The information about demographic and clinical characteristics of the hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of extra-pulmonary TB or tuberculous pleuritis at discharge were collected from Hospital Information System. Descriptive statistical analyses on the patients’ information were performed by using frequency, constituent ratio and median, and χ² test was used to compare the differences in distributions among groups.

  Results  A total of 3451 patients with extra-pulmonary TB were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 44（29, 59）years. The male to female ratio of the patients was 1.41∶1. In the extra-pulmonary TB included, 1615 (46.80%) were farmers and herders. Tuberculous pleurisy, lymph node TB and bone and joint TB cases accounted for 19.97% (689 cases), 12.58% (434 cases) and 12.37% (427 cases) respectively. Extra-pulmonary TB complicated with hepatobiliary disease, renal disease and malnutrition were found in 533 cases (15.44%), 354 cases (10.26%) and 258 cases (7.48%) respectively. A total of 1973 patients (57.17%) had clear medical conditions before admission, and 1597 patients (46.28%) had surgical operation. The median length of hospitalization was 17.00 days. The analysis on the type of health insurance for patients with extra-pulmonary TB indicated that 1244 patients (36.05%) had urban residents' health insurance; and 398 patients (11.53%) paid for the medical treatment by themselves.

  Conclusion  The hospitalized patients with extra-pulmonary TB were mainly males, young and middle-aged people and farmers (herdsmen), and tuberculous pleurisy, lymph node TB and bone and joint TB were the most common types.