Diabetes prevalence and factors associated with newly detected diabetes in elderly TB patients

<sec><title>BACKGROUND</title>TB and diabetes mellitus (DM) frequently coexist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence on their coexistence among the elderly in Bangladesh is limited. This study assessed prevalence of diabetes and associated factors with newly detected diabetes in elderly TB patients.</sec><sec><title>METHODS</title>This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 across eight tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh. A total of 656 TB patients aged ≥60 years were included. Diabetes status was determined using prior diagnosis and oral glucose tolerance testing after 2 weeks of TB treatment initiation. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using semi-structured questionnaire. Informed written consent was taken and ethical issues were maintained. Data were analysed by IBM SPSS software. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with newly detected diabetes.</sec><sec><title>RESULTS</title>Prevalence of diabetes was 30.3%, including 16.8% known and 16.3% newly detected. Newly detected diabetes was associated with age 65–69 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.81) and ≥70 years (AOR = 4.95), physical inactivity (AOR = 5.23), overweight/obesity (AOR = 7.73), family history of diabetes (AOR = 9.14), and pulmonary TB (AOR = 4.49). Dietary risk lost significance in adjusted analysis.</sec><sec><title>CONCLUSIONS</title>Due to high burden of diabetes in elderly TB patients, routine diabetes screening and TB–DM management, particularly targeting high-risk groups, are essential to improve outcomes.</sec>