Abstract
Background and Objectives Underweight indicating undernutrition has a bidirectional relationship with Tuberculosis TB and is an established prognostic risk factor. It contributes to an estimated 55 of annual TB incidence in India. Positive weight changes among Indian patients without additional nutritional support are in the range of 3ndash4 kg. Undernourished patients with TB get into a vicious cycle of worsening disease and undernutrition which is detrimental. With this background we intend to assess the weight changes and its determinants among newly diagnosed drug sensitive smear positive pulmonary TB patients and estimate the prevalence of undernutrition.Methodology A prospective study was conducted among 121 newly diagnosed drug sensitive smear positive pulmonary TB patients ge 18 years registered in selected tuberculosis units in Bangalore. A pretested questionnaire was administered weight and height were measured at recruitment. Patients were followed up for weight assessment at the end of two and six months. Repeated ANOVA measures were applied to see statistical differences in the weight changes between the start of treatment end of two months and six months.Results Mean weight at the start of the treatment end of two months and six months was 55.72plusmn8.9 56.7plusmn8.5 and 58.2plusmn8.2 kg respectively. The weight changes between the groups was found to be statistically significant p value lt0.001. Mean weight gain in the study subjects was 2.3plusmn1.4 kg. An average of 4 positive weight change was seen at the end of the treatment. Positive weight change was significantly associated with higher socio economic status absence of alcohol consumption absence of tobacco use absence of clubbing and pallor in TB patients while only absence of pallor OR-16.169.3-3.7 and tobacco use OR-12.6 43.9-3.5 in multivariate analysis showed a p value lt 0.05.Conclusion Monitoring the weight regularly in TB patients during the course of treatment with proper nutritional counselling is essential for treatment support and success of National TB Elimination Program NTEP as the nutritional status has a bidirectional relationship with TB acting as an important determinant factor for treatment success
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