Predictors and Risk Factors for the Development of Cardiovascular Disease among Tuberculosis Patients

Introduction: Globally, the morbidity burden of tuberculosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is substantial in developing nations. A significant epidemiological and pathological co-occurrence exists between tuberculosis (TB) and CVD. A contributory relationship between tuberculosis infection and cardiovascular disease is evident. Beyond traditional risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, additional risk factors, predictive indicators, and clinical markers contribute to cardiovascular disease development in tuberculosis patients. Monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes, and cytokines, which are integral to cell-mediated immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis , are also key drivers of atherosclerotic processes in the cardiovascular vasculature. Methodology: This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2023 to August 2023, utilizing data collected from January 2015 to December 2022. The study sought to identify risk factors and predictive indicators for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among individuals with a diagnosis and screening of active tuberculosis (TB). A descriptive, retrospective research design was employed, focusing on TB patients without pre-existing CVD. A convenience sample of 402 TB patient records was included in this analysis. Results This study's findings suggest a strong correlation between clinical markers, including high-sensitivity troponin T, C-reactive protein, electrocardiographic data, echocardiographic findings, cardiac enzymes, acute kidney injury (AKI), diabetes mellitus (DM), anaemia, and severe chest radiographic abnormalities, and the development of cardiovascular disease in tuberculosis patients. Positive values for the aforementioned clinical parameters were considered indicative of cardiovascular disease development. Conclusions The results advance understanding of a potential correlation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and the development of cardiovascular disease, examining the risk factors conducive to CVD pathogenesis, and facilitating the development of targeted interventions to improve the comprehensive care of individuals with tuberculosis.