The peculiarities and risk factors of patients with mental and behavioral disorders associated with tuberculosis.

Abstract

Patients with mental and behavioral disorders have an increased risk of tuberculosis. The aim of the study was toidentify the peculiarities and risk factors for tuberculosis in patients with mental and behavioral disorders. Material andmethodology: a selective, descriptive, analytical and retrospective study was conducted, which included 71 tuberculosispatients diagnosed with mental and behavioral disorders registered in the period 2015-2019 with tuberculosis. The results:the particularities of the patients were male sex (58 (81.7%) cases), age between 35 and 64 years (48 (67.9%) cases).Risk factors for acquiring tuberculosis were: low socio-economic status (67 (85.9%) cases), poor living conditions - 58(81.7%) cases, tuberculosis contact – 12 (16.9%) and associated pathologies, including HIV-infection – 11 (15.5%) cases.Although pulmonary localization of tuberculosis predominated - 61 (85.9%) cases, microbiological confirmation wasestablished in 12 (16.9%) cases only. Therapeutic success was established in only 37 (52.1%) cases and death occurredin 20 (28.1%). Conclusion: the standardized management of patients with mental and behavioral disorders is a challengefor the successful completion of anti-tuberculosis treatment in the majority of the cases, and individualization accordingto patient needs will improve the therapeutic outcome.