Risk factors affecting the failure to complete treatment for patients with latent tuberculosis infection in Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

ObjectiveThe treatment completion rate for all latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) patients in Tokyo was 83.6% in 2014: somewhat lower than the targeted goal of 85%. This study examines the association between risk factors and LTBI patients’ failure to complete treatment. MethodsWe collected data related to the treatment of LTBI patients who were reported to public health centers in Tokyo from January 2014 through December 2014. Data included potential risk factors affecting treatment, treatment results, and patient characteristics. We used Fisher's exact test to evaluate risk factors affecting failure to complete treatment. The failure rate was defined as the incompletion rate of treatment. ResultsOf 1060 notified cases, 877 had completed treatment; 116 had not completed treatment. Of these 116 cases, failure to complete treatment in 52 cases was attributable to side effects of anti-tuberculosis drugs. Reasons other than side effects were given for 64 cases. Another 67 cases could not be followed up. In all, 941 cases were analyzed, excluding cases lost to follow-up and cases for which patients had not completed treatment because of anti-tuberculosis drug side effects. Failure rates among foreign-born patients (26.9%) were significantly much higher than those among Japan-born patients (3.9%). Statistical tests indicated no presumed potential risk factor as significant. However, “no supporter for foreign-born LTBI patients” was marginally significant. ConclusionOnly “no supporter for foreign-born LTBI patients” was found to be marginally significant. More data must be accumulated to assess the risk factors affecting LTBI treatment.