Using competing risks model and competing events in outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis patients

• Published in: International journal of mycobacteriology Vol. 5; no. 5; p. S237
• Main Authors: Dizaji, Mehdi Kazempour, Kazemnejad, Anoshirvan, Tabarsi, Payam, Zayeri, Farid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2016; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Drug resistance; Infectious Disease; Medical Education; Patient outcomes; Pulmonary tuberculosis; Risk assessment; Risk factors
• ISSN: 2212-5531; 2212-554X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmyco.2016.09.015

Abstract Introduction Although tuberculosis (TB) is curable, the rate of failure and mortality is high in comparison to other infectious diseases worldwide. It has been shown that majority of TB patients leave treatment before completing the therapeutic regimen. The aftermath of incomplete regimens might result in drug resistant-TB bacilli (DR-TB), relapses, and death. For this reason, proper knowledge about the disease and associated risk factor is crucial to decreasing TB cases among the general population. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the associated factors and competing events among pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Materials and methods Based on a cohort study, associated risk factors and competing events from 2366 confirmed TB patients that referred to the National Center for Tuberculosis for diagnosis and treatment (2005–2015) were collected and analyzed. Results Our results showed that gender, age, marital status, TB contact, drug adverse effect, and HIV positive, imprisoned, significantly affect the relapse cases, drug resistance, and mortality rate ( P -value <0.05). Conclusions Use of competing risks model with competing events can provide a better way to understand the associated risk factors co-related with outcome of the pulmonary TB process, especially among DR-TB patients.