Predictors of Tuberculosis Treatment Outcome in an Urban Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

This is a retrospective cohort study on tuberculosis in 286 patients aged between 18-60 years who had completed anti-tuberculosis treatment for a minimum of six months for patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and nine months for patients diagnosed with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in an out-patient government clinic in Johor Bahru. Patients were analysed by age group, gender, ethnicity, occupation, types of tuberculosis, smear results, presenting chest X-Ray, presenting clinical symptoms, duration of symptoms, comorbidities and relevant social history. Treatment outcomes of patients were assessed based on clinical symptoms resolution, chest x-ray resolution and smear clearance at two months, four months and six months after commencement of treatment. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Male gender, weight loss, night sweats, moderate to severe chest X-Ray findings, involvement of both lungs, smear positivity and smoking history were significant predictors of poor anti-tuberculosis treatment outcomes. On the other hand, smear negativity is a significant predictor of good treatment outcomes. Males, middle aged groups, ethnicity, lower social status and homemakers were at a higher risk of developing tuberculosis and thus further studies on these population groups are required..