{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Association Between Diagnostic Delays and Spinal Involvement in Human Brucellosis: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.
{Author}: Pu Z;Liu Y;Bai M;Ling T;Pan J;Xu D;Dai P;Yan Y;
{Journal}: Open Forum Infect Dis
{Volume}: 11
{Issue}: 7
{Year}: 2024 Jul
{Factor}: 4.423
{DOI}: 10.1093/ofid/ofae357
{Abstract}: <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Spinal involvement is a common but serious complication of human brucellosis. However, information on the risk factors associated with spinal involvement in individuals with brucellosis is limited.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This retrospective case-control study aimed to determine the potential risk factors associated with spinal complications in inpatients with brucellosis.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>During the study period, brucellosis was diagnosed in 377 patients, of whom 108 (28.64%) showed spinal involvement. Those with spinal involvement were significantly older than patients in the control group (mean age [standard deviation], 53.25 [10.48] vs 43.12 [13.84] years, respectively; P < .001). The diagnostic delays were significantly longer in patients with spinal involvement than in the control group (mean delay [standard deviation], 11.17 [13.55] vs 6.03 [8.02] weeks; P = .001). Age >40 years (odds ratio, 5.42 [95% confidence interval, 2.65-11.05]; P < .001) and diagnostic delay >4 weeks (2.94 [1.62-5.35]; P < .001) were independently associated with spinal involvement in brucellosis. The lumbar spine at the L3-5 level was the most affected (152 of 249 [61.04%]). Back pain (92 of 108 in case patients vs 21 of 108 in controls; P < .001) and splenomegaly (23 vs 42 of 108, respectively; P = .005) differed significantly between the 2 groups.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Age >40 years and diagnostic delay >4 weeks increased the risk of spinal involvement in brucellosis. Therefore, the time from symptom onset to diagnosis should be shortened, using effective measures to reduce spinal involvement risk.