Feasibility and outcomes of diabetes mellitus screening in people with tuberculosis in Burundi

Francois Ciza; Michel Sawadogo; Joselyne Nsanzerugeze; Alberto Roggi; Nimer Ortuno-Gutierrez; Evelyne Ndabaniwe; Belyse Munezero; Manasse Nimpagaritse; Tinne Gils

doi:10.1093/inthealth/ihag036

Feasibility and outcomes of diabetes mellitus screening in people with tuberculosis in Burundi

Francois Ciza
, Michel Sawadogo
, Joselyne Nsanzerugeze
, Alberto Roggi
, Nimer Ortuno-Gutierrez
, Evelyne Ndabaniwe
, Belyse Munezero
, Manasse Nimpagaritse
, Tinne Gils

Tuberculosis

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Peer-reviewed journal articles › peer-review

Abstract

Background
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased risk of death and relapse during tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Systematic screening and treating DM can improve outcomes. However, DM screening is poorly implemented in low-resource settings. We discuss implementation and results from the first integrated DM screening program in TB treatment centers in Burundi.

Methods
People diagnosed with TB who consented were screened for DM. The prevalence and number needed-to-test (NNT) for DM in people with TB with unknown DM status were estimated. Predictors for DM were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Enablers for further rollout were documented.

Results
Among 324 people with TB (April–September 2023), 6.8% (95% CI 4.4 to 10.1%) had DM. A family history of DM, tobacco consumption and being unemployed predicted DM. The NNT to find a DM case was 15. Enablers for further national rollout of DM/TB screening include health promotion for people with TB, healthcare worker training, free-of-charge DM testing and integration of DM treatment at the point of TB treatment.

Conclusion
In Burundi, systematic DM screening in people with TB is relevant and feasible if remaining challenges are addressed. DM diagnosis, care and treatment should be provided free-of-charge in TB treatment centers.

Original language	English
Article number	ihag036
Journal	International Health
Number of pages	5
ISSN	1876-3413
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihag036
Publication status	Published - 23-Apr-2026

Keywords

Associated factors
comorbidity TB/DM
Diabetes
Feasibility
Prevalence

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title = "Feasibility and outcomes of diabetes mellitus screening in people with tuberculosis in Burundi",

abstract = "Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased risk of death and relapse during tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Systematic screening and treating DM can improve outcomes. However, DM screening is poorly implemented in low-resource settings. We discuss implementation and results from the first integrated DM screening program in TB treatment centers in Burundi. Methods People diagnosed with TB who consented were screened for DM. The prevalence and number needed-to-test (NNT) for DM in people with TB with unknown DM status were estimated. Predictors for DM were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Enablers for further rollout were documented. Results Among 324 people with TB (April–September 2023), 6.8\% (95\% CI 4.4 to 10.1\%) had DM. A family history of DM, tobacco consumption and being unemployed predicted DM. The NNT to find a DM case was 15. Enablers for further national rollout of DM/TB screening include health promotion for people with TB, healthcare worker training, free-of-charge DM testing and integration of DM treatment at the point of TB treatment. Conclusion In Burundi, systematic DM screening in people with TB is relevant and feasible if remaining challenges are addressed. DM diagnosis, care and treatment should be provided free-of-charge in TB treatment centers.",

keywords = "Associated factors, comorbidity TB/DM, Diabetes, Feasibility, Prevalence",

author = "Francois Ciza and Michel Sawadogo and Joselyne Nsanzerugeze and Alberto Roggi and Nimer Ortuno-Gutierrez and Evelyne Ndabaniwe and Belyse Munezero and Manasse Nimpagaritse and Tinne Gils",

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T1 - Feasibility and outcomes of diabetes mellitus screening in people with tuberculosis in Burundi

AU - Ciza, Francois

AU - Sawadogo, Michel

AU - Nsanzerugeze, Joselyne

AU - Roggi, Alberto

AU - Ortuno-Gutierrez, Nimer

AU - Ndabaniwe, Evelyne

AU - Munezero, Belyse

AU - Nimpagaritse, Manasse

AU - Gils, Tinne

N1 - FTX: CC BY © The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

PY - 2026/4/23

Y1 - 2026/4/23

N2 - Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased risk of death and relapse during tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Systematic screening and treating DM can improve outcomes. However, DM screening is poorly implemented in low-resource settings. We discuss implementation and results from the first integrated DM screening program in TB treatment centers in Burundi. Methods People diagnosed with TB who consented were screened for DM. The prevalence and number needed-to-test (NNT) for DM in people with TB with unknown DM status were estimated. Predictors for DM were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Enablers for further rollout were documented. Results Among 324 people with TB (April–September 2023), 6.8% (95% CI 4.4 to 10.1%) had DM. A family history of DM, tobacco consumption and being unemployed predicted DM. The NNT to find a DM case was 15. Enablers for further national rollout of DM/TB screening include health promotion for people with TB, healthcare worker training, free-of-charge DM testing and integration of DM treatment at the point of TB treatment. Conclusion In Burundi, systematic DM screening in people with TB is relevant and feasible if remaining challenges are addressed. DM diagnosis, care and treatment should be provided free-of-charge in TB treatment centers.

AB - Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased risk of death and relapse during tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Systematic screening and treating DM can improve outcomes. However, DM screening is poorly implemented in low-resource settings. We discuss implementation and results from the first integrated DM screening program in TB treatment centers in Burundi. Methods People diagnosed with TB who consented were screened for DM. The prevalence and number needed-to-test (NNT) for DM in people with TB with unknown DM status were estimated. Predictors for DM were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Enablers for further rollout were documented. Results Among 324 people with TB (April–September 2023), 6.8% (95% CI 4.4 to 10.1%) had DM. A family history of DM, tobacco consumption and being unemployed predicted DM. The NNT to find a DM case was 15. Enablers for further national rollout of DM/TB screening include health promotion for people with TB, healthcare worker training, free-of-charge DM testing and integration of DM treatment at the point of TB treatment. Conclusion In Burundi, systematic DM screening in people with TB is relevant and feasible if remaining challenges are addressed. DM diagnosis, care and treatment should be provided free-of-charge in TB treatment centers.

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KW - comorbidity TB/DM

KW - Diabetes

KW - Feasibility

KW - Prevalence

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Feasibility and outcomes of diabetes mellitus screening in people with tuberculosis in Burundi

Abstract

Keywords

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