Table 2. Comparative analysis of patient characteristics, by group (early and delayed diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis).
| Characteristic | Group | p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early diagnosis* | Delayed diagnosis† | ||
| (n = 28) | (n = 50) | ||
| Age (years), mean ± SD | 39.21 ± 12.80 | 43.4 ± 18.1 | 0.241 |
| Male gender, n (%) | 18 (64.3) | 29 (58.0) | 0.762 |
| Diagnostic criteria, n (%) | |||
| AFB-positive smear | 21 (75.0) | 20 (40.0) | 0.005 |
| Positive culture | 1 (3.6) | 14 (28.0) | |
| AFB-positive smear + positive culture | 6 (21.1) | 16 (32.0) | |
| Smoking status, n (%) | |||
| Never smoker | 7 (25.0) | 19 (38.0) | 0.412 |
| Former smoker | 7 (25.0) | 13 (26.0) | |
| Current smoker | 14 (50.0) | 18 (36.0) | |
| Symptoms, n (%) | |||
| Asthenia | 25 (89.3) | 37 (64.0) | 0.190 |
| Cough | 25 (89.3) | 36 (72.0) | 0.137 |
| Sputum | 18 (64.3) | 18 (36.0) | 0.030 |
| Fever | 19 (67.9) | 31 (62.0) | 0.786 |
| Weight loss | 25 (89.3) | 33 (66.0) | 0.047 |
| Dyspnea | 13 (46.4) | 22 (44.0) | 1.000 |
| Hemoptysis | 5 (17.9) | 4 (8.0) | 0.270 |
| Night sweats | 13 (46.4) | 20 (40.0) | 0.755 |
| Chest pain | 8 (28.6) | 13 (26.0) | 1.000 |
| Drug dependence, n (%) | 14 (50.0) | 17 (34.0) | 0.253 |
| Alcohol dependence | 7 (25.0) | 9 (18.0) | 0.658 |
| HIV/AIDS | 10 (35.7) | 23 (46.0) | 0.520 |
| Immunosuppression, n (%) | |||
| Corticosteroid use | 2 (7.1) | 6 (12.0) | 0.704 |
| Immunosuppressive therapy | 1 (3.6) | 5 (10.2) | 0.408 |
| Transplant recipient | 0 (0.0) | 4 (8.0) | 0.291 |
| Previous tuberculosis, n (%) | 6 (21.4) | 9 (18.0) | 0.945 |
| Chronic lung disease, n (%) | |||
| COPD | 1 (3.6) | 6 (12.0) | 0.411 |
| Other | 1 (3.6) | 2 (4.0) | 1.000 |
| Malignancy, n (%) | |||
| Lung cancer | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.0) | 1.000 |
| Other | 0 (0.0) | 2 (4.0) | 0.534 |
*< 2 days from the initial radiological examination to the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. †≥ 2 days from the initial radiological examination to the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.