Association between tuberculosis and diabetes in the Mexican border and non-border regions of Texas

Abstract

The association between tuberculosis and underlying risk factors was evaluated in Texas patients hospitalized in the 15 counties along the Mexico border within the remaining non-border counties. A case control analysis of the hospital discharge dataset from the Texas Health Care Information Council was performed for the years 1999-2001. A discharge diagnosis of tuberculosis identified cases (N = 4,915). Deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and acute appendicitis conditions identified controls (N = 70,808). Risk factors associated with tuberculosis were identified by logistic regression. Diabetes patients were almost twice as likely to have tuberculosis after adjusting by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. The association was strong for the population in the Texas border region, where there are higher incidence rates of tuberculosis (odds ratio [OR](adj) = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.57-2.12) compared with non-border counties (OR(adj) = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.36-1.67).

Figure 1

Map of Texas-Mexico border and non-border counties.