Predictors of Death among Patients Who Completed Tuberculosis Treatment
Author Information
Author(s): Juan-Pablo Millet, Angels Orcau, Cristina Rius, Marti Casals, Patricia Garcia de Olalla, Antonio Moreno, Jeanne L. Nelson, Joan A. Caylà, the Barcelona Tuberculosis Working Group
Primary Institution: Epidemiology Service, Public Health Agency of Barcelona
Hypothesis
What are the predictors of death in patients who have successfully completed tuberculosis treatment?
Conclusion
The study found that mortality among TB patients who completed treatment is linked to factors such as age, alcohol abuse, and HIV infection.
Supporting Evidence
- 173 deaths occurred among the 762 patients followed.
- The mortality rate was 3.4 per 100 person-years of follow-up.
- Age over 41 years significantly increased the risk of death.
- HIV-infected injecting drug users had a 7.9-fold higher risk of dying.
Takeaway
Some people who finish treatment for tuberculosis still die later, especially if they are older, drink too much alcohol, or have HIV.
Methodology
A population-based retrospective longitudinal study was conducted, following TB patients who completed treatment from 1995 to 1997 until 2005.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the retrospective nature of the study and reliance on existing health records.
Limitations
The study may not fully represent all demographics due to the exclusion of certain populations and limited access to clinical data.
Participant Demographics
The cohort had a median age of 36 years, with 68.2% male, 23.4% HIV-infected, and 27.3% alcohol abusers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
HR: 3.5; CI: 2.1–5.7 for age 41-60; HR: 14.6; CI: 8.9–24 for age >60; HR: 1.7; CI: 1.2–2.4 for alcohol abuse; HR: 7.9; CI: 4.7–13.3 for HIV-infected IDU.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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