Six-year trend and risk factors of unsuccessful pulmonary tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Thai Community Hospital

ObjectiveTuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Despite efforts to eliminate TB in Thailand, the incidence rate has declined slowly. This study aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors of unsuccessful pulmonary TB treatment (failed, died and loss-to- follow up) in a community hospital in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2019.ResultsA total of 487 patients were eligible for the study. The incidence of unsuccessful treatment was 21.67/100 population person year. Risk factors of unsuccessful pulmonary TB treatment were unemployment (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 3.12, 95%CI 1.41-6.86), HIV co-infection (AHR 2.85, 95%CI 1.25-6.46), previous history of TB (AHR 2.00, 95%CI 1.04-3.81), positive sputum AFB at the end of the intensive phase (AHR 5.66, 95%CI 2.33-13.74), and sputum AFB was not performed at the end of the intensive phase (AHR 18.40, 95%CI 9.85-34.35). This study can be utilized to improve prevention and intervention of TB treatment by strengthening public health system on treatment quality especially TB patient monitoring tools or methods easy for accessing to patients in communities.