Introduction:

patients with diabetes mellitus constitute a group with higher rates of tuberculosis than the general population.

There is sufficient evidence of concern in the world over the increase in the burden of diabetes mellitus morbidity in the coming years, whose impact on the epidemiological behavior of tuberculosis leads to a higher incidence of cases, as well as worse outcomes after treatment, higher mortality and relapses.

Objective:

to establish the prevalence of latent tuberculosis in diabetic patients of the Internal Medicine service of a health institution in the city of Bogotá, D.C, Colombia.

Methods:

cross-sectional study to establish the prevalence of latent Tuberculosis in patients with diabetes mellitus.

A sample of patients who were tested for PPD 5 U tuberculin read at 72 hours considering positive an induration greater than 10 mm was analyzed. Patients with a history of active tuberculosis or with additional risk factors for Micobacterium tuberculosis infection were excluded.

Results:

69 patients older than 18 years were included. The median age was 67 years, 54% were women. The test was considered positive in 24 patients, with a prevalence of 35%.

Of the patients diagnosed with latent tuberculosis, 63% were women, 67% required insulin for diabetes control and 58% had some degree of kidney disease.

Conclusion:

there is a high prevalence of latent tuberculosis in patients with diabetes mellitus at a hospital in the city of Bogotá. Additional studies with a larger population of diabetics are required that compare this prevalence with that referenced in the general population and establish possible additional risk factors for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis such as the need to require insulin and the degree of renal involvement. (Acta Med Colomb 2017; 42: 165-171).