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The effects of malnutrition on outcomes in miliary tuberculosis (MTB) are not well described. The aim of the present study was to find predictors for the development of acute respiratory failure (ARF) and survival in MTB patients, focusing on parameters reflecting nutritional condition.

Out of the patients from three hospitals who had microbiologically or histopathologically confirmed tuberculosis, 56 patients presenting with typical disseminated pulmonary nodules on radiographs were retrospectively enrolled. A four-point nutritional risk score (NRS) was defined according to the presence of four nutritional factors: low body mass index (BMI; <18.5 kg·m⁻²), hypoalbuminaemia (<30.0 g·L⁻¹), hypocholesterolaemia (<2.33 mmol·L⁻¹) and severe lymphocytopenia (<7×10⁵ cells·L⁻¹).

The male to female ratio was 1:3. ARF developed in 25% of patients (14 out of 56), with a 50% fatality rate. A high NRS (≥3 points …