FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MORTALITY AMONG TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacillus mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable disease that, despite the rapid advances in active therapy, continues to cause global mortality. In this study, we investigated the risk factors associated with mortality in patients undergoing treatment for TB. Materials and methods: Records of 2,450 tuberculosis patients who were followed-up with in tuberculosis dispensaries in the city of Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey, between January 2005 and December 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Case definitions and treatment outcomes were classified according to WHO criteria. Results: Of the 2,450 registered TB patients, 1,339 were male (54.7%) and 1,111 were female (45.3%). Their mean age was 32.15 +/- 17.87 years, and 51 (2.1%) of them died. Mortality rates were higher in pulmonary TB (PTB) patients, males, relapse patients, category 2 patients, those >65 years old, TB meningitis patients, and patients who self-administered their therapy. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the mortality rates were significantly higher in patients aged >65 years, in those with Category II and in those TB meningitis. The significant independent risk factors for mortality during anti-TB treatment were advanced age, TB meningitis and gastrointestinal TB. Conclusion: Mortality was increased in the elderly, males, those with relapse, and in category II and extrapulmonary TB patients. Based on these data, we suggest that tuberculosis control programs should pay more attention to the high-risk groups determined in the current and previous studies. Treatment regimens for these risk groups should be considered for revision.