Role of Diabetes Mellitus on Treatment Effects in Drug-susceptible Initial Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

We assessed the role of diabetes mellitus (DM) on treatment effects in drug-susceptible initial pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients. A prospective study was conducted in eight provinces of China from October 2008 to December 2010. We enrolled 1,313 confirmed drug-susceptible initial PTB patients, and all subjects received the treatment regimen (2H3R3E3Z3/4H3R3) as recommended by the national guidelines. Of the 1,313 PTB patients, 157 (11.9%) had DM; these patients had more sputum smear-positive rates at the end of the second month [adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 2.829, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.783-4.490], and higher treatment failure (aOR 2.120, 95% CI 1.565-3.477) and death rates (aOR 1.536, 95% CI 1.011-2.628). DM was a contributing factor for culture-positive rates at the end of the second month and treatment failure and death of PTB patients, thus playing an unfavorable role in treatment effects of PTB.

Risk of Treatment Failure in Patients with Drug-susceptible Pulmonary Tuberculosis in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The objective of this prospective study of the risks of treatment failure in patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was to provide reference data to help develop a disease control strategy. Participants were recruited in eight provinces of China from October 2008 to December 2010. A total of 1447 patients with drug-susceptible PTB and older than 15 years of age were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, bacteriological test results, and patient outcome, i.e., cure or treatment failure were recorded and compared using the chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with risk of treatment failure. Of the 1447 patients who were enrolled, 1349 patients (93.2%) were successfully treated and 98 (6.8%) failed treatment. Failure was significantly associated with age 365 years [odds ratio (OR)=2.522, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.097-5.801)], retreatment [OR=2.365, 95% CI: (1.276-4.381)], missed medicine [OR=1.836, 95% CI: (1.020-3.306)], treatment not observed [OR=1.879 95% CI: (1.105-3.195)], and positive culture result after the first [OR=1.971, 95% CI: (1.080-3.597)] and second month [OR=4.659, 95% CI: (2.590-8.382)]. The risk factors associated with treatment failure were age 365 years, retreatment, missed medication, treatment not observed, and positive culture at the end of month 1 or month 2. These risk factors should be monitored during treatment and interventions carried out to reduce or prevent treatment failure and optimize treatment success.

Study on the risk factors leading to irregularly anti-pulmonary tuberculosis drug taking in patients with smear positive / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe the current situation and explore risk factors to irregularly antipulmonary tuberculosis(TB) drugs taking in smear positive TB patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four out of the forty counties in Chongqing were randomly sampled according to the levels of social and economic development. Totally, 405 new patients with smear positive tuberculosis were systematically sampled and a household survey was carried out. A multiple logistic regression model was fitted to explore the risk factors to irregularly anti-TB drugs taking.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of valid 401 cases, 50 (12.47%) did not take their drugs regularly and the top 3 reasons for irregular drugs taking were: (1) Adverse effects; (2)Economic hardship; (3) Stopped taking drugs when symptom disappeared. Results from multiple logistic regression analysis showed that factors as: self-perceived economical burden, awareness on TB before being infected and awareness on the fact that if anti-TB drugs can be stopped if the symptoms disappeared, were statistically significant to irregularly drugs taking.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Strengthening health education program and alleviation of economical burden might serve as two effective measures for regularly drugs taking among TB patients.</p>