Incidence and prognosis of tuberculosis in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. A Danish nationwide population based study

We examined the incidence rate and prognosis of tuberculosis in a cohort of patients with liver cirrhosis in Denmark, In a study cohort of 22 675 pati ents with liver cirrhosis, we identified 151 cases of tuberculosis from 197 7 to 1993. The incidence rate was 168.6 per 100 000 person-years of risk, a nd the highest incidence rate was among men above 65 years of age, with an incidence rate of 246.0 per 100 000 person-years of risk. The 30-day case-f atality rate was 27.3 % and the 1-year case fatality rate was 47.7 %. The r esults demonstrate that patients with liver cirrhosis are at increased risk of tuberculosis. Additionally, it is suggested that liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for tuberculosis, and that patients with liver cirr hosis who acquire tuberculosis have a poor prognosis.