THE ASSOCIATION OF AGE WITH THE PRESENTATION AND OUTCOME OF TUBERCULOSIS - A 5-YEAR SURVEY

Of the 411 patients notified with tuberculosis in Leeds during 1986 th rough 1991, case notes were available on 406 (99%) and the diagnosis o f mycobacterial disease was accepted in 397 (98%). Twenty-two patients had infection with atypical mycobacteria and were excluded from analy sis, as were children under 16 years. Comparison between the age group s was further restricted to white patients because of a skew distribut ion of Asian patients towards the younger age range. Ninety-six elderl y patients (aged 65 years and older) were compared with 127 younger pa tients. The distribution of pulmonary and extrathoracic disease was si milar as was the incidence of positive bacteriology. Elderly people ha d more frequent lower-zone and more frequent miliary shadowing, otherw ise radiographic features were similar. Elderly people were nearly thr ee times more likely to have reactions to antituberculous drugs, six t imes more likely to die from tuberculosis and over twenty times more l ikely than younger patients to have the diagnosis made at autopsy rath er than during life.