Sputum smear conversion and treatment outcomes for tuberculosis patients with and without diabetes in Fiji

Settings: Three tuberculosis (TB) treatment centres under the Fiji National Tuberculosis Programme.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among TB patients for the period 2010–2012, and to evaluate sputum smear conversion and anti-tuberculosis treatment outcomes, comparing patients with and without DM.

Design: A retrospective descriptive study using routinely collected data from the TB register and in-patient folders.

Results: Of 577 TB patients identified, information on DM was available for 567 (98%), of whom 68 (12%) had DM. Smear status at 2 months was available for 254 (82%) patients with sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB. The sputum smear conversion rate (from positive to negative) was equivalent in TB patients with and without DM (78% vs. 80%, P = 0.66). Anti-tuberculosis treatment outcome information was available for 462 patients; the difference in outcome comparing successfully treated patients with those unsuccessfully treated was not statistically significant (91% in TB patients with DM vs. 84% in TB patients without DM, P = 0.06).

Conclusion: DM is common among TB patients in Fiji. Sputum smear conversion rates were not different in TB patients with and without DM; no difference in treatment success between the two groups was observed.