Mortality and Risk Factors in Tuberculosis Patients in Ethiopia
Author Information
Author(s): Getahun Belete, Ameni Gobena, Biadgilign Sibhatu, Medhin Girmay
Primary Institution: Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, College of Health Sciences Addis Ababa University
Hypothesis
What are the risk factors associated with time to death among TB patients treated under the DOTS programme in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia?
Conclusion
Most patients died at the end of the treatment period, highlighting the need for improved DOTS programme standards and nutritional support.
Supporting Evidence
- 236 out of 6450 registered TB patients died, a mortality rate of 3.7%.
- More than 75% of deaths occurred within eight months of treatment initiation.
- Body weight at treatment initiation was an independent predictor for time to death.
Takeaway
This study looked at people with tuberculosis in Ethiopia and found that many died during treatment, especially those who were underweight or had been treated before.
Methodology
A retrospective cohort study analyzing medical records of TB patients treated under the DOTS strategy from June 2004 to July 2009.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of cause of death and incomplete data on variables like HIV status.
Limitations
Data was extracted from medical records, which may be subject to selection bias and incomplete information.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 30.13 years, 46.8% were male, and 88.9% were new TB cases.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95%CI of 0.804 to 0.973
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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