Outcome of first-line tuberculosis treatment in migrants from Vietnam
Objective: 1) To describe the outcome of first-line tuberculosis treatment, and 2) to investigate the role of prognostic factors on treatment outcome.
Design: Cohort of consecutive smear-positive patients identified by screening before departure, and followed up until cure or failure, for a maximum of two years.
Results: Seven hundred and twenty-nine patients were consecutively diagnosed with infectious tuberculosis. Patients received directly observed treatment with rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide for a minimum of 6 months, or until sputum conversion was maintained for 6 consecutive months. The cumulative percentage of cure with first-line treatment was 50.2% (SE = 2%) at 7 months, and 92.8% (SE = 2%) at 24 months. Young patients without cavities achieved the highest percentage of cure. Stratified testing confirmed the negative effect on the chance of cure of age >45 years (P < 0.001), and cavities (P < 0.001), while the effect of previous treatment was not significant (P = 0.105).
Conclusions: While the overall cure rate was satisfactory, older patients and those with cavities required prolonged treatment and reached a less satisfactory level of cure.
Keywords: Vietnam; immigrants and emigrants; tuberculosis
Document Type: Regular Paper
Publication date: 01 August 1998
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