Treatment interruption is one of the main risk factors of poor treatment outcome and occurrence of additional drug resistant tuberculosis. This study is a national retrospective cohort study with 10 years follow up period in MDR-TB patients in Ethiopia. We included 204 patients who had missed the treatment at least for one day over the course of the treatment (exposed group) and 203 patients who had never interrupted the treatment (unexposed group). We categorized treatment outcome into successful (cured or completed) and unsuccessful (lost to follow up, failed or died). We described treatment interruption by the length of time between interruptions, time to first interruption, total number of interruption episodes and percent of missed doses. We used Poisson regression model with robust standard error to determine the association between treatment interruption and outcome. 82% of the patients interrupted the treatment in the first six month of treatment period, and considerable proportion of patients demonstrated long intervals between two consecutive interruptions. Treatment interruption was significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome (Adjusted Risk Ratio (ARR) = 1.9; 95% CI (1.4–2.6)). Early identification of patients at high risk of interruption is vital in improving successful treatment outcome.

ObjectivesTreatment success rate in patients treated for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is low, but predictors of treatment failure and death have been under-reported. Thus, we aimed to determine the national proportion of treatment success rate in the past 10 years and factors that predict treatment failure and death in patients with MDR-TB in Ethiopia.SettingA retrospective cohort study with a 10-years follow-up period was conducted in 42 MDR-TB treatment-initiating centres in Ethiopia.ParticipantsA total of 3395 adult patients with MDR-TB who had final treatment outcome and who were treated under national TB programme were included. Data were collected from clinical charts, registration books and laboratory reports. Competing risk survival analysis model with robust standard errors (SE) was used to determine the predictors of treatment failure and death.Primary and secondary outcomesTreatment outcome was a primary outcome whereas predictors of treatment failure and death were a secondary outcome.ResultsThe proportion of treatment success was 75.7%, death rate was 12.8%, treatment failure was 1.7% and lost to follow-up was 9.7%. The significant predictors of death were older age (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR)=1.03; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.05; p<0.001), HIV infection (AHR=2.0; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.4; p<0.001) and presence of any grade of anaemia (AHR=1.7; 95% CI 1.4 to 2.0; p<0.001). Unlike the predictors of death, all variables included into multivariable model were not significantly associated with treatment failure.ConclusionIn the past 10 years, although MDR-TB treatment success in Ethiopia has been consistently favourable, the proportion of patients who died is still considerable. Death could be attributed to advanced age, HIV infection and anaemia. Prospective cohort studies are necessary to further explore the potentially modifiable predictors of treatment failure.

Background:The emergence of MDR-TB is a global public health problem. Hypothyroidism is one of the severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in MDR-TB patients on treatment. Representative data on hypothyroidism and its associated factors among MDR-TB patients are lacking. Objective: To determine thyroid profiles and associated risk factors among multidrugresistant TB patients during therapy with anti-MDR-TB regimen in Saint Peter Specialized Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January to November 2020. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in MDR-TB patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 162 patients, who were older than 18 years, had bacteriologically confirmed MDR-TB and on treatment for more than one month were enrolled consecutively from the TB registration book. However, critically sick patients and those who were receiving additional drugs known to cause severe ADRs were excluded. Simple descriptive statistics were used to present the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between independent and dependent variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant in all analyses. Results: Mean age of the study participant was 35.9 ± 13.6 years. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 32 (19.8%). The presence of co-morbidity, being underweight, and prothionamide use were significantly associated with hypothyroidism in MDR-TB patients on treatment. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism occurs commonly among MDR-TB patients. Presence of comorbidity, being underweight, and prothionamide drug use are the factors associated with hypothyroidism. Monitoring of thyroid function test during MDR-TB treatment and factors associated with hypothyroidism require attention to prevent complication.

BackgroundLimited evidence exists on the treatment outcome and factors that are associated with the duration from the initiation of treatment to death or treatment failure in children with drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). Thus, we aimed to determine the proportion of treatment enrollment, status of treatment outcome and determine factors that are associated with the duration from treatment initiation to death or treatment failure in children treated for DR-TB in Ethiopia. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study in children younger than 15 years old who were treated for DR-TB from February 2009 to February 2019 in Ethiopia. We collected data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics from clinical charts, registration books and laboratory result reports on 155 children. Proportion of enrollment to the treatment was calculated by dividing the total number of children who were receiving the treatment by the total number of DR-TB patients treated during the specified years. We used Cox proportional hazard models to determine factors that were associated with the duration from the beginning of the treatment to death or treatment failure. Data was analyzed using STATA version 14. ResultsOf the 3,478 DR-TB patients enrolled into the treatment and fulfilling our inclusion criteria during the past ten years, 155 (4.5%) were children. Of the 155 children, 75 (48.4%) completed the treatment and 51 (32.9%) were cured. Furthermore, 18 (11.6%) children were died, seven (4.5%) lost to follow up and treatment of four (2.6%) children was failed. The overall treatment success was 126 (81.3%). Age younger than 5 years old [Adjusted Hazard PLOS ONE | https://doi.

Background: The rise of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has become a major public health concern around the world. Most patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have low body nutrients, hypocholesterolemia, and lower values were strongly associated with mortality in these patients. Representative data on lipid profile, fasting blood glucose abnormalities and their associated factors among MDR TB patients are lacking. Objective: To determine lipid profile, fasting blood glucose abnormalities and their associated factors among multi-drug resistant TB patients during therapy with anti-MDR-TB regimen in St.peter’s Specialized Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January to November 2020. Methods and materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted among multi-drug resistant TB patients during MDR therapy regimen in St. Peter’s Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January to November 2020.Using the Consecutive sampling method a total of 162 blood samples was collected in SST tubes and analyzed by using the Cobas chemistry analyzer. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23 packages. Simple descriptive statistics were used to present the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants. Other associations were performed with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. A p-value of <0.05 at the 95 % confidence level were considered as statistically significant in all the analyses. Results: Mean age of the study participant was 35.9 ± 13.6 years. The prevalence of diabetes was 16%. Out of those who had diabetes (9.8%) was newly diagnosed and 6.2% already knew their diabetes status.The most common serum lipid profile abnormalities were 92.6 % HDL-C and 35.8% had TG levels above the borderline. Among MDR-TB patients, 25.9% had a fasting blood glucose level that was higher than normal (hyperglycemic). Conclusion: Lipid profile abnormalities and an increased risk of diabetes have been observed in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Factors associated with abnormal blood glucose needed attention to avoid further complications and also the finding of this research calls for the implementation of active case finding of DM in patients diagnosed for MDR-TB.