Authors: Chiang, C-Y.¹; Lee, J-J.²; Yu, M-C.³; Enarson, D.A.¹; Lin, T-P.⁴; Luh, K-T.⁴

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 13, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 105-111(7)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

SETTING: All individuals reported as being treated for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among citizens of Taipei City, Taiwan, in 2003.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate risk factors associated with treatment interruption for at least 2 consecutive months and death.

DESIGN: The outcome of PTB cases was determined by consulting medical charts.

RESULTS: Of 1127 PTB patients registered, 824 (73.1%) were successfully treated, 189 (16.8%) died, 65 (5.8%) interrupted treatment, 17 (1.5%) were still on treatment 15 months after commencing treatment and 32 (2.8%) failed. The only significant factor associated with treatment interruption was visits to other health facilities after commencing tuberculosis (TB) treatment. TB patients had a standardised mortality ratio of 8.7 (95%CI 7.5-10.0). Factors significantly associated with death were age (adjusted hazard ratio [adjHR] 1.06. 95%CI 1.05-1.08), sputum culture not performed/unknown (adjHR 2.07, 95%CI 1.47-2.92), and comorbidity with respiratory disease (adjHR 1.68, 95%CI 1.24-2.27), infectious disease (adjHR 2.80, 95%CI 2.07-3.78), renal disease (adjHR 2.58, 95%CI 1.82-3.66) or cancer (adjHR 3.31, 95%CI 2.35-4.65), compared with other patients.

CONCLUSION: Visits to other health facilities were associated with interruption of treatment for at least 2 months. A high proportion of deaths was due to old age and comorbidity.

Keywords: death; default; tuberculosis; outcome

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France 2: Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital & Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan 3: Taipei Medical University-Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan 4: National Tuberculosis Association, Taipei, Taiwan

Publication date: 2009-01-01

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• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

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