Determination of Risk Factors among Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Patients

Background: Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is a type of tuberculosis which is caused by a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex with resistance to at least one drug that might be isoniazid or rifampicin with or without resistance to any other drug of first-line anti-tuberculosis group. Multiple factors have been identified which lead to multi drug resistance response in tuberculosis. Objective: To determine risk factors among patients of multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis at public sector health facilities in Lahore. Methods; Cross sectional study was conducted in outpatient department of chest medicine Public Sector Health Facilities Lahore, Pakistan from January 2017 to 30th June 2017 after obtaining informed consent from Patients of multi drug resistant Tuberculosis in both sexes of age more than 18 years. After simple random sampling 485 patients coming from different cities of whole Punjab were included in this study. The data were entered and interpreted as frequency and percentage distribution. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Results; Among 485 patients of multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis there were 248 males and 237 females. 126 (25.98%) patients had known contact with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis patients. 39(8.04%) had poor Tuberculosis (TB) program performing facility. 48(9.90%) had treatment failure and presented with different co-morbidities. Only 2 male cases (0.41%) had human immunodeficiency virus and 39(8.04%) had diabetes Mellitus.27(5.57%) cases had prior course of therapy included rifampicin throughout treatment and poor compliance of treatment was seen in 73(15.05%) cases. Smoking history and addiction was observed among 29(5.98%) and 15(3.09%) cases. Conclusion; The risk factors for TB and multi drug resistant Tuberculosis were not same except the history of contact, inadequate treatment and treatment failure. Addiction and human immunodeficiency virus in multi drug resistant tuberculosis were also uncommon factors. Addiction / consumption of alcohol was common in minorities specially Christians.