Risk Factors Associated with Survival of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background: We conducted this study among adults with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) who received treatment, in order to determine the risk factors associated with survival of during treatments. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from 2005-2015 with newly registered TB patients in the Hospital of Masih Daneshvari Doctor, Tehran, Iran. Overall, 5313 patients met our study's cohort definition, but the analysis was performed on 2299 patients (43.2%) who had a correct address and they could be traced-out by the Medical - registry. Time in days was used in survival model and patients who were still alive (until last follow-up date) considered as censored. To study the effect of risk factors on patients' survival, the generalized gamma regression model was used. Results: Based on the results of univariate analysis, gender (RR=2 (95% CI: 1.1-3.7), high school education (Relative Risk: RR=0.3 (95% CI: 0.2-0.7), higher education (RR=0.3 (95% CI: 0.1-0.9), smoker (RR=2.5 (95% CI: 1.4-4.2), drug user (RR=2.4 (95% CI: 1.4-4), TB contact (RR=0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.8) and HIV positive (RR=4 (95% CI: 1.7-9.2) affected patients' survival. Moreover, the results of multivariate analysis showed that, gender (RR=5.5 (95% CI: 2.2-13.5), age (RR=1.1 (95% CI: 1-1.1), adverse drug effect (RR=2.5 (95% CI: 1.2-5.4), smoker (RR=3.3 (95% CI: 1.2-9.4), TB contact (RR=0.2 (95% CI: 0.1-0.5), diabetic mellitus (RR=3 (95% CI: 1-8.3), HIV positive (RR=26 (95% CI: 4.6-145.9) and comorbidities (RR=4.9 (95% CI: 2-11.6) were identified as factors affecting patients' survival. Conclusion: Our data indicated associated risk factors in TB mortality and could suggest way to progressing national tuberculosis program (NTP) for predicating and plan for effective interventional strategies.