Clinical Indicators Distinguishing Pulmonary Tuberculosis from Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Older Adults: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

ABSTRACT: Clinical indicators for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have been derived from studies on younger or middle-aged populations in high TB-burden countries. However, diagnostic clues specific to older adults remain insufficiently validated. This multicenter prospective observational study aimed to identify the clinical features that can help differentiate PTB from CAP among older patients. We enrolled patients aged ≥ 65 years who were diagnosed with PTB or non-TB CAP between September 2023 and September 2025. Clinical data-including demographics, symptoms, and laboratory findings, previously reported as potential discriminators of PTB-were compared between the two groups. Of 233 patients included, 57 (24%) were diagnosed with PTB. No signifi

SUBMITTER: Yamasue M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12845188 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature