The Poor Survival among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Chiapas, Mexico: The Case of Los Altos Region

Abstract

Objective. To analyse survival in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and factors associated with such survival. Design. Study of a cohort of patients aged over 14 years diagnosed with PTB from January 1, 1998 to July 31, 2005. During 2004–2006 a home visit was made to each patient and, during 2008-2009, they were visited again. During these visits a follow-up interview was administered; when the patient had died, a verbal autopsy was conducted with family members. Statistical analysis consisted of survival tests, Kaplan-Meier log-rank test and Cox regression. Results. Of 305 studied patients, 68 had died due to PTB by the time of the first evaluation, 237 were followed-up for a second evaluation, and 10 of them had died of PTB. According to the Cox regression, age (over 45 years) and treatment duration (under six months) were associated with a poorer survival. When treatment duration was excluded, the association between poorer survival with age persisted, whereas with having been treated via DOTS strategy, was barely significant. Conclusions. In the studied area it is necessary that patients receive a complete treatment scheme, and to give priority to patients aged over 45 years.

Does time to loss to follow-up differ among adult tuberculosis patients initiated on tuberculosis treatment and care between general hospital and health centers? A retrospective cohort study

“…Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounts for the lion's share of TB deaths, TB-HIV co-infections, and TB-HIV deaths. One underlying reason is the relatively low coverage and quality of TB prevention, treatment, and care programs in Africa [3,4].…”

Survival Status and Predictors of Loss to Follow-up Among Adult Patients with Tuberculosis on Follow-up and Care in Public Health Facilities of Sheka Zone, South-West Ethiopia: Facility-Based, Retrospective Cohort Study

“…Despite being the home for around 25% of universally registered cases of TB, sub-Saharan Africa carries a much exceeding share of TB related deaths (40%), TB/HIV co-infections (72%), and TB/HIV deaths (80%); and relatively lowered coverage and worth of TB prevention, care, and treatment programs in Africa are among the many reasons for it (3). Developing countries have a share of 95% of cases and 99% of deaths (4). Ethiopia with 22 high TB burden countries, accounts for nearly 80% of all worldwide TB load and is ranked the 10th globally and the 4th in Africa (1,2,5).…”

Predictive factors of death in patients with tuberculosis: a nested case–control study

“…Moreover, in studies conducted by Van den Broek et al (12) and Albuquerque et al (9), HIV positivity was reported as an important predictive factor of death from tuberculosis. Several factors, such as delays in diagnosis and treatment of HIV-positive patients whose sputum smear is usually negative, and also more advanced immunosuppression, can explain this poor outcome (7).…”

“…Although age and treatment duration has been shown in several studies to be associated with death from tuberculosis (7,20,21), we controlled for these factors in our study by individual matching when selecting controls.…”