Factors Associated with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Older Adults: A Scoping Review

This study aimed to identify, through a literature review, the main factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in older adults. A scoping review was conducted follow-ing the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute and in accordance with the PRIS-MA-ScR extension for this type of study and was registered with the Open Science Framework. The research question was developed using the Population, Concept, and Context framework. Search was conducted in electronic databases including PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. Additionally, gray literature was re-trieved from Google Scholar and the CAPES Theses and Dissertations Catalog. Pul-monary tuberculosis was found to be strongly associated with older male individuals, those with a prior diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, smokers, alcohol users, individuals with close contact with active TB cases, and those with liver cirrhosis. The findings suggest that pulmonary tuberculosis is determined by multifactorial conditions, in-cluding those naturally associated with aging. The study underscores the need for tar-geted public health policies that integrate active surveillance, early diagnosis, and social support. The results provide a basis for evidence-based interventions aimed at control-ling pulmonary tuberculosis in this vulnerable population.