Risk factors of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in urban Allahabad, India

Abstract

Background: India has the highest burden of tuberculosis globally while second highest in estimated MDR-TB cases after China. The prevalence of MDR-TB is estimated to be 3% among new cases and 14-17% amongst the re-treatment cases. The Objective of the study was to identify the risk factors of MDR-TB in patients registered at tuberculosis units of urban Allahabad.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on TB patients registered at the urban tuberculosis units of Allahabad district in the year 2015. A total of 54 MDR-TB and 1016 non-MDR TB patients were included in the study. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data on the various factors. The chi-square test was used to study the association of various risk factors for MDR-TB patients.Results: MDR-TB was more common in 26-45 year age group (59.26%), males (62.96%), previously treated TB case (83.34%), positive history of contact with MDR-TB patient (5.55%), patients previously on non-DOTS treatment (37.78%), patients with associated co-morbidities (37.03%) and in substance abuse (74.07%) while Non-MDR is more common in >45 years (46.75%) age group, females (56.69%), new cases (87.20%), patients on DOTS therapy (85.16%), without any co-morbidities (83.46%) and in patients having positive history of substance abuse (60.04%).Conclusions: The younger age, male gender previous TB treatment, patients previously on Non-DOTS treatment, incomplete previous TB treatment, positive contact history of MDR-TB cases, presence of associated co-morbidities and substance abuse was significantly associated with MDR-TB patients than Non-MDR-TB patients (p<0.05).