Cardiovascular Mortality among Tuberculosis Patients

Introduction: Tuberculosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) pose significant health challenges in developing countries. Research suggests a connection between tuberculosis infections and the development of CVD. The immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, driven by monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes, and cytokines, also plays a key role in the formation of atherosclerosis in the arteries, contributing to cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to assess the mortality trend of tuberculosis patients due to the development of cardiovascular disease among TB patients, secondary to tuberculosis infection. Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted at Penang General Hospital, Malaysia, from January 2023 to August 2023. Data was collected from January 2015 to December 2022. A retrospective design that focuses on TB patients without pre-existing CVD. This study utilized a purposive sampling of 657 deceased TB patient files. Results: The present study findings revealed a significant statistic of mortality of 12.5% due to CVD among TB patients, with acute coronary syndrome being the leading cause (8.37%). Factors such as anemia (p = 0.005) and drug resistance (p = 0.004) demonstrated a significant association with mortality due to CVD. Conclusions: These findings illuminate the possible link between tuberculosis infection and cardiovascular disease (CVD) progression. Identifying risk factors contributing to the development of CVD can guide targeted interventions aimed at improving the comprehensive care of tuberculosis patients.