Mumbai: Three women with tuberculosis who died at HN Reliance Hospital between 2021 and 2023 are the focus of a study that sheds light on how delayed diagnosis, treatment, and gender bias contribute to TB mortality among Indian women.
The study, led by Dr Preeti Chabbria, director of Internal Medicine at the hospital, examined clinical data, lab results, and treatment outcomes, revealing patterns of neglect and advanced disease progression.
“These women were unrelated but shared a common factor — delayed treatment after neglecting their symptoms. Gender disparity in early access to care is a known issue, and this study sheds light on its impact across various social and financial classes,” Dr Chabbria said, adding that all three came from middle-income families.
The first patient, a 72-year-old woman with severe anaemia and low protein levels, developed lung bleeding and cardiac arrest. Though she was revived, her family opted for basic care instead of advanced care due to financial constraints. She passed away six days after admission.
The second patient, a 31-year-old malnourished woman with a BMI of 12.99 — as against the healthy BMIwhich is between 18.5 and 24.9 – presented with fever, weakness, and weight loss. Depression following a miscarriage compounded her condition. Tests confirmed tuberculosis, but liver issues restricted her treatment options. Despite oxygen support, she died five days after admission, as financial constraints also limited her care.
The third patient, a 55-year-old woman with chronic illnesses and a spinal fracture that left her bedridden, arrived in critical condition with signs of advanced TB. Despite starting treatment and supportive care, her condition worsened, and she passed away after 27 days in the hospital.
In all three cases, the women only discovered that they had tuberculosis at a very late stage, despite being unwell for months. One patient, who had diabetes, chose ayurvedic treatment over medical care, further delaying her diagnosis, said Dr Chabbria.
“We need to break the myth that TB is a poor man’s disease. In these cases, the family was relatively well-off. The choice of advanced treatment was at the last minute, and medically shifting to another hospital due to financial constraints wasn’t an option. At large, women are conditioned to be in caregivers’ roles and neglect their health,” Dr Chabbria pointed ou
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