Anaemia of chronic disease among pulmonary tuberculosis patients is associated with inflammatory marker at the start of intensive phase.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) disrupts iron balance through systemic inflammation. Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is linked to diverse anaemia types, necessitating intricate haematological and biochemical assessments for diagnosis. This study aims to describe the prevalence of anaemia of chronic disease (ACD), iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) among PTB patients and factors associated with these types of anaemia. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted from community-based cohort study involving sputum-positive PTB patients from 2018 to 2020 in urban Puducherry. Participants were enrolled from 10 primary health centres within 2 weeks of initiating anti-tubercular treatment (ATT). Blood samples were collected for assessing haematological and biochemical parameters. The sTfR/log ferritin ratio was used to distinguish between ACD and IDA. Data were captured using Epicollect5 and analysed using STATA V14. Result: Of the 176 PTB patients included, 63.07% (111/176) had anaemia, with ACD being the predominant type (84.6%, 94/111). The C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher among the anaemic group [40.77 (16.66-58.51) mg/dl vs 24.65 (14.23-47.26) mg/dl] and higher among the ACD as compared to IDA [46.9 (22.3-61.2) vs 20.8 (13.0-39.1) mg/dl]. Undernourished [adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) =3.43; confidence interval (CI): 1.21-9.69] and patients having low risk of dependence on tobacco [APR = 1.52; CI: 1.10-2.11] had higher risk of ACD. Female patients had higher risk of IDA [APR = 4.95, P < 0.01]. Conclusion: The largest proportion of the PTB participants with anaemia had ACD. Acute-phase reactant and inflammatory marker are increased among newly diagnosed new sputum smear-positive (NSP) PTB participants at the start of ATT. Addressing inflammation is needed for combating anaemia in PTB patients.

Undernourished Household Contacts Are at Increased Risk of Tuberculosis (TB) Disease, but not TB Infection- a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Analysis.

Undernutrition is the leading risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) globally and in India. This multicenter prospective cohort analysis from India suggests that undernutrition is associated with increased risk of TB disease but not TB infection among household contacts of persons with TB.

Morbidity and Treatment-Seeking Pattern among Low Birth Weight Infants: A Community-based Cohort Study from Puducherry.

Background: To compare the morbidity and treatment-seeking pattern of low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) infants during the first six months. Material and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in the service areas of eight urban primary health centers of Puducherry from October 2019 to July 2021. Details of LBW and sex-matched NBW infants were obtained from the birth registers of selected PHCs. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule on completion of the first, third, and sixth months at their homes. For comparison, Mid-p exact test was used for incidence rates, t-test/Mann-Whitney for continuous variables and the Chi-square/Fisher's exact test for the categorical variables. Results: Ninety-four pairs of LBWS and NBW infants were recruited. The incidence of morbidity during the first six months among LBW and NBW infants was 37.5 and 33.3 episodes per 100 child months, respectively (P value 0.118). Though the incidence of all-cause morbidity was similar, skin infections were significantly higher among LBW (3.10 vs 1.21 per 100 child months, P = 0.04). The incidence of all-cause morbidity was high in LBW infants with poor weight gain. Conclusion: Birth weight was associated with all-cause morbidity during the first three months. However, this association varied in age points and infants' weight gain.

Tuberculin test using Indian indigenous purified-protein derivative (PPD) shows only moderate agreement with international standard PPD.

Background: In India, the prevalence of Latent TB infection (LTBI) is estimated to be around 40%. Various formulations of PPD(Purified protein derivative) are available, for diagnosis of LTBI, which may give variable responses. The commercially available PPD in India is by Arkray Healthcare (TST-Arkray). It is unclear if this product may have a similar sensitivity compared to other internationally accepted tuberculins (TST-Tubersol). Objectives: To assess the performance of the two TSTs compared to Quantiferon-Gold Plus (QFT-Plus). Methodology: A blood sample was collected for the QFT-Plus test. Both the TSTs were placed in the right and the left volar aspect of the forearms and 48 hrs later, the subjects came back to the study site for reading. Results: Among the 512 participants who were recruited, 326 subjects were healthcare professionals and 186 subjects were household contacts of patients with tuberculosis. They were tested with both TST-Tubersol and TST-Arkray, 139(27 %) participants tested positive for TST-Tubersol (≥10 mm), whereas 203 participants (40.1 %)tested positive for TST-Arkray. There was moderate agreement between the two tests with k = 0.58. Also, there was only poor agreement between both the TSTs with QFT Plus(kappa = 0.19 for Tubersol and 0.17 for Arkray). With QFT-Plus as gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of TST-Tubersol, ast an induration cut-off of 10 mm was 46.8 %,76.3 %,31.8 % and 85.8 %. respectively and TST- Arkray; 60.6 %, 64 %, 28.5 % and 87.2 % respectively. Conclusion: The Indian TST (Arkray Diagnostics) has shown moderate agreement with the internationally accepted Tubersol. Additionally, there was poor agreement between the TSTs and QFT plus test.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody kinetics up to 6 months of follow-up: Result from a nation-wide population-based, age stratified sero-epidemiological prospective cohort study in India.

Repeated serological testing tells about the change in the overall infection in a community. This study aimed to evaluate changes in antibody prevalence and kinetics in a closed cohort over six months in different sub-populations in India. The study included 10,000 participants from rural and urban areas in five states and measured SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in serum in three follow-up rounds. The overall seroprevalence increased from 73.9% in round one to 90.7% in round two and 92.9% in round three. Among seropositive rural participants in round one, 98.2% remained positive in round two, and this percentage remained stable in urban and tribal areas in round three. The results showed high antibody prevalence that increased over time and was not different based on area, age group, or sex. Vaccinated individuals had higher antibody prevalence, and nearly all participants had antibody positivity for up to six months.

Effect of Community-Based Health Education on Misconceptions Related to Caregiving for Cancer among Elderly in a Rural Area of Puducherry: A Pre-Post-Intervention Study.

Background and Aim: Families are crucial in providing comprehensive support to cancer patients, including physical, psychological, spiritual, and financial assistance. Unfortunately, cancer-related myths and stigma can have detrimental effects on those affected and their caregivers. This study aims to remove the misconceptions prevailing in a rural population of Puducherry regarding caregiving for cancer among elderly through a health education campaign. Materials and Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted among 217 adults above 18 years of age in a rural area of Puducherry. The intervention was delivered through pamphlet distribution, health talks, and discussion. Attitude, beliefs, and knowledge regarding the misconceptions about cancer were assessed in a five-point Likert scale and then the difference in the proportion of subjects with misconceptions about cancer before and after the intervention was tested using the McNemar test. Results: Among the respondents, 77% were females, 15% were illiterate, and 9.6% had a history of cancer in the family. About 23% felt cancer lends a bad name to the family and 24% considered palliative care as not necessary since end-stage cancer patients would die. Post-intervention, the perception that herbal items or diets may treat cancer declined from 45% to 18%, and that a cancer patient in the family lends bad name to the family declined from 23% to 3% (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Community-based intervention can effectively reduce misconceptions related to caregiving for cancer among elderly in rural areas. These interventions can also improve the quality of care and support provided to cancer patients.

Association of Social Capital With Tuberculosis: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Analytical Study in South India.

BACKGROUND: Social capital denotes the relationships, networks, norms and values in the community. A high level of social capital positively improves health through a supportive social system. Illnesses affect health and social relationships. One such disease is tuberculosis (TB), known for its social stigma. India has the highest burden of morbidity and mortality due to TB. The assessment of social capital would highlight the importance of a supportive environment in reducing the disease burden and bringing better treatment outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional exploratory analytical study was conducted in two primary health centers in Puducherry between February 2020 and March 2021. Considering the feasibility and resource constraints, we assessed the social capital between 50 newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients, their age- and gender-matched 50 household contacts (HHCs) and 50 PTB patients who completed treatment a year before. The HHC was either the marital partner or sibling of the newly diagnosed PTB patients selected for comparison as their exposure to infection would be similar to those diseased but did not develop the illness. Social capital and its domains were assessed using the World Bank's social capital questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics and social capital domains were compared using a chi-squared test. Mean standardized Z-scores of the domains were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). A p-value of <0.05 is taken as significant. RESULTS: Most participants from each group belonged to lower socioeconomic strata and were males (80%). The overall level of social capital was low among the newly diagnosed PTB patients, especially the group and network and trust and solidarity domains. The mean standardized Z-scores of social capital were the highest among the HHCs, followed by the treatment-completed PTB patients. There was no consistent pattern, but the trust and solidarity domain showed a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: A low level of social capital and its domains were seen among the newly diagnosed PTB patients. However, better scores among the HHCs and the treatment-completed patients infer a negative association between social capital and TB. Thus, higher social capital preserves and improves health. Therefore, caregivers and disease-cured patients can be utilized as a social support system for current diseased patients and improve their health status.

Mode of Delivery and Postpartum Depression: A Cohort Study.

Background: There are many established risk factors for postpartum depression (PPD). It is controversial whether the mode of delivery is associated with PPD. This prospective study assessed the prevalence of PPD among women who delivered normally versus cesarean section and the association between sociodemographic factors and clinical factors with PPD. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JIPMER Hospital Puducherry, from July 2019 to June 2020. Women without high risk factors for PPD were included. The sample size was 121 in the normal delivery (ND) group and 121 in the cesarean section (CS) group. PPD screening was conducted within one week of delivery and again after six weeks of delivery using a validated Tamil or English version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A score of EPDS score ≥ 13 was considered positive for PPD. Univariate and multivariable analysis was done to find out the association. Results: The overall prevalence of PPD was 27.27%. The prevalence of PPD was higher in the CS (34.71%) than in the ND group (19.83%). PPD was found 2.1 times (OR-2.1, CI 1.2-3.8) in the CS group within one week and 2.5 times (RR-2.5, CI 1.5-3.9) at six weeks of delivery, respectively. Among the social factors, a history of domestic abuse or violence was found to be significantly associated with PPD by both univariate and multivariable analysis. Conclusion: PPD was twice higher among women in the CS than in the ND group. Domestic abuse or violence was very highly significantly associated with PPD.

External validation of prediction models for vaginal delivery after the trial of labour among women with previous one caesarean section - A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To externally validate three predictive models (the Grobman model (2007), the Zhang model (2020), and the Grobman model (2021)) for identifying women with increased chances of a successful trial of labour after caesarean section (TOLAC). METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital from 2018 to 2021. Individual probabilities were calculated for women with previous one caesarean section who underwent TOLAC at term, using the predicted probabilities from the logistic regression models. The primary outcome of this study was vaginal delivery following attempted TOLAC. The predictive ability of the models was assessed using the area under the receiver operative characteristics curves (AUC) and a calibration graph. RESULTS: Of 1515 eligible women who underwent TOLAC, we found an overall rate of successful TOLAC of 60.3 %. No significant difference was noticed in adverse scar outcome and neonatal morbidity while comparing successful and failed TOLAC. The discriminative ability of Grobman-2007 and Grobman-2021 and the Zhang model were fair to poor with the AUC of 0.54(95 % CI 0.51-0.57), 0.62(95 % CI 0.59-0.65) and 0.66(95 % CI 0.63-0.69) respectively. The agreement between the observed rates of TOLAC success and the predicted probabilities for all three models was poor. CONCLUSION: The performance of all three models predicting success after TOLAC was poor in the study population. A population-specific model may be needed, with the addition of factors influencing the labour, such as the methods of induction, which may aid in predicting the outcome.

Predictors of Change in the Anemia Status Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Following Anti-tuberculosis Treatment in Puducherry, India.

Background Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is commonly associated with reversible peripheral blood abnormalities. The evolution of tuberculosis (TB)-associated anemia with anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) has not been well elucidated. This study aimed to compare the hematological profiles at the start and end of the ATT among new sputum smear-positive (NSP) PTB patients in Puducherry, India. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted in the 10 urban primary health centers of Puducherry from 2017 to 2020. All the NSP PTB participants aged ≥18 years registered under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) were contacted within two weeks of the start of the ATT. All eligible participants were enrolled, and they were followed up till the end of ATT (180 days). Hematological profiles and anthropometric measurements were compared at the start and end of the ATT. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictors of changes in the anemia status at the start and end of the ATT. Results Out of 176 NSP PTB participants, 145 were followed up after treatment. Initially, 63% (111/176) patients had anemia, which decreased to 44% (64/145) by the end of treatment. The risk factors for a negative change in hemoglobin levels were female gender, below poverty level, underweight, and reduced iron intake. The adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) were 1.53 (1.24-1.88), 1.18 (1.01-1.38), 1.29 (1.02-1.64), and 1.26 (1.05-1.51),respectively. Conclusion ATT may lead to the resolution of TB-associated anemia. Moreover, female gender, possession of a red ration card, being underweight, and reduced iron intake were identified as risk factors for negative changes in hemoglobin levels during treatment.

Mapping of Palliative Care Services and Challenges in Implementation of National Program for Palliative Care in Puducherry.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to map ongoing palliative care services and describe the characteristics of providers, recipients, level of care, and approach. Second, it seeks to investigate the difficulties encountered in implementing NPPC in the Puducherry district of UT Puducherry. This study aims to review the challenges in its implementation. Material and Methods: The study using both quantitative and qualitative design, including geospatial mapping of organisations, describing service delivery characteristics and exploring challenges faced in implementing NPPC, was conducted from July 2021 to January 2022. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven healthcare providers, four patients and three caregivers, as well as key informant interviews with six doctors in administration. Results: Thirteen organisations providing palliative care to population of Puducherry district of union territory Puducherry and neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu were identified. Mapped organisations were primarily concentrated in urban areas. Morphine was available only at three medical colleges, providing outpatient palliative care services. Non-governmental organisations provided only home-based palliative care services and the hospices provided both in-patient and home-based services. Key barriers perceived by the health system were difficulty in procuring morphine, inadequate personnel and inadequate funding. Few barriers perceived by patients/family were stigma faced in community, psychological challenges and poor quality of care. Conclusions: Palliative care services are mainly available in urban areas and through private hospices. There is a need to implement palliative care program through the public health system to improve the accessibility in the rural areas.

Effect of life skills education on socio-emotional functioning of adolescents in urban Puducherry, India: A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: We wanted to assess the effect of life skills education (LSE) and regular curriculum on the self-esteem, self-efficacy, adjustment, and psychosocial functioning of students from co-educational government schools, compared to those receiving only the regular curriculum. The secondary objectives were to study the feasibility of such sessions and identify the factors affecting the effectiveness of the sessions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods study in government schools of urban Puducherry, India in 2018-2019. The quantitative component was a cluster-randomized trial with activity-based learning methods delivered over 10 sessions in the intervention arm (IA). Differences in outcome variables (self-esteem, self-efficacy, adjustment, psychosocial behavior) between baseline and after intervention in each of the groups were calculated, and the difference-in-differences (DID) technique was applied to account for any natural change in scores over time. Qualitative data were collected through focused group discussions (FGDs) among students and teachers. Analysis was founded on a positivist paradigm with inducto-deductive methodology. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of 258 participants was 13 (1) years in both arms. The mean (SD) difference between baseline and end-line for IA and control arm (CA) was 0.3 (4.4) and - 0.1 (4.0), for self-esteem (P = 0.38), 0.03 (6.0) and - 1.1 (6.1) for self-efficacy (P = 0.12), and - 0.04 (3.5) and - 0.05 (4.3) for adjustment (P = 0.73), respectively. Similarly, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) difference in the conduct problems scale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was - 1 (-2, 1) and 0 (-1, 1) (P < 0.01). Five FGDs revealed multiple positive effects on anger management, conduct, self-awareness, and responsible behavior. All 10 teachers viewed life skills education (LSE) positively. CONCLUSIONS: LSE positively affects adolescents' socio-emotional functioning, but more extended periods of exposure are needed to demonstrate discernible change. The feasibility of implementation depends on the syllabus and based on health policies.

Association of Selected Cardiovascular Markers With Tuberculosis: Community-Based Exploratory Cross-Sectional Analytical Study in Puducherry.

Introduction India accounts for one-fourth of the global tuberculosis (TB) burden and also faces a rising burden of non-communicable diseases. Only a few have studied the association between the infective pathogenesis of TB and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods A cross-sectional exploratory analytical design was used to compare CVD risk factors and immunological and radiological parameters. This was a pilot study conducted in two primary health centers in urban Puducherry between February 2020 and March 2021. Household contacts (HHC) were either spouses or siblings of the newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients selected for comparison as their exposure to infection would be similar to those who were diseased yet did not develop illness. Assuming a difference of 5% in CVD risk between the general population and TB patients, with a 95% confidence interval, the sample size calculated was 153 in each group by nMaster v2.0. Considering the feasibility and resource constrain, we recruited 50 newly diagnosed PTB patients, their age- and gender-matched 50 HHC and 50 PTB patients who completed treatment a year before. CVD risk factors were compared using chi-square or Fisher exact test. Interleukins-6 (IL-6), interferon-gamma (INF-γ), highly specific - C reactive protein (hs-CRP), and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were compared using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. Results Most participants from each group belonged to lower socio-economic strata and were males (40/50). Alcohol intake was higher among newly diagnosed and treatment-completed PTB patients (82.5% vs 72.5%). Excess salt intake (58%) was present more in newly diagnosed PTB patients. General and abdominal obesity were seen more among HHC (64% and 84%) and treatment-completed PTB patients (50% and 74%). IL-6 was higher in newly diagnosed PTB patients, whereas INF-γ and hs-CRP were higher in treatment-completed PTB patients. The largest proportion of those having high CIMT values was also in the treatment-completed PTB patients. Conclusion Levels of immune markers hint at the role of inflammation due to TB disease being related to the high CIMT values among the newly diagnosed and treatment-completed PTB patients. CVD risk was higher among TB patients even if they had completed treatment and were declared cured.

Impact of Low Birth Weight on the Prevalence and Economic Burden of Common Childhood Illnesses Among Under-Five Children in India: Findings From Nationally Representative Surveys.

Background Common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea, fever, and acute respiratory infection impose substantial health burdens among under-five children, and Low Birth Weight (LBW) has been associated with an increased prevalence of these illnesses. However, the impact of LBW on healthcare utilization and the economic burden of these illnesses remains understudied. Aim To assess the impact of LBW on the prevalence, healthcare utilization, and Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) for outpatient (OP) treatment of selected Common Childhood Illnesses (CCHI) among under-five children in India. Methodology This study utilized data from two nationally representative surveys conducted in India; National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) (2019-2021) and the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) 75th Round Schedule Social Consumption: Health (2017-2018). Data from the NFHS-5 was analyzed to assess the impact of LBW on the prevalence of selected CCHI and healthcare utilization. Comparison of OOPE for OP treatment of selected CCHI between LBW and Normal Birth Weight (NBW) children done using the median OOPE for OP visits of CCHI estimated from the NSSO data. Results The two-week prevalence of selected CCHI among LBW and NBW children was found to be 20.0% (95% CI 19.6 -20.4) and 18.0% (95% CI 17.8 -18.2), respectively. There was no significant difference between LBW and NBW children on healthcare utilization for the treatment of CCHI; both groups had a similar proportion (around 70%) of formal medical treatment utilization for CCHI. The median OOPE spending for OP visits per episode of CCHI was comparable between LBW and NBW children. However, families of LBW children had higher annual OOPE spending for OP visits related to CCHI, with projected estimates of INR 1,446 ($19.56) for LBW children and INR 1,271 ($17.2) for NBW children. Conclusion LBW was associated with a higher prevalence of CCHI. Even though healthcare utilization was similar among LBW and NBW children, a higher prevalence of CCHI among LBW children led to higher OOPE. LBW children have approximately 13% higher annual OOPE spending for the OP visits related to selected CCHI compared to NBW children.

Outcome of emergency obstetric cases in relation to the referral pattern at a tertiary hospital in Puducherry: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Background: Referral is a crucial aspect of emergency obstetric care in India. Adequate and timely referrals help to improve the quality of health-care services and maternal and child well-being. Objectives: Studies are needed to assess the outcome of obstetric mothers' emergency admissions in relation to referral patterns. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study was done among obstetric patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital's emergency department (emergency medical service [EMS]). A retrospective cohort was analyzed. The data were entered in Epicollect5 and imported to STATA software version 16 for analysis. Results: A total of 685 mothers admitted to EMS were selected for the study, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 26.5 years (4.2). Among the study participants, 181 (26.4%) were referred from other institutions, 382 (55.8%) were nonreferral who received antenatal checkups in the tertiary hospital, and 122 (17.8%) were self-referral who had not received any antenatal checkup in the tertiary hospital. The adverse fetal outcome was 1.88 (1.21-2.95) times higher in the referred mothers compared to the self-referral. Conclusion: We observed that a higher percentage of referrals were from the primary health centers. This kind of direct referral to tertiary care hospitals can be avoided by availing the emergency obstetric services at secondary hospitals to prevent adverse fetal outcomes and unnecessary referrals to the tertiary hospital.

Not business as usual: Engaging the corporate sector in India's TB elimination efforts.

India has the highest global burden of tuberculosis (TB), accounting for a quarter of the worldwide TB disease incidence. Given the magnitude of India's epidemic, TB has enormous economic implications. Indeed, the majority of individuals with TB disease are in their prime years of economic productivity. Absenteeism and employee turnover due to TB have economic ramifications for employers. Furthermore, TB can easily spread in the workplace and compound the economic impact. Employers who fund workplace, community, or national TB initiatives stand to gain directly and also enjoy reputational benefits, which are important in the era of socially conscious investing. Corporate social responsibility laws in India and tax incentives can be leveraged to bring the logistical networks, reach, and innovative spirit of the private sector to bear on India's formidable TB epidemic. In this perspective piece, we explore the economic impacts of TB; opportunities for and benefits from businesses contributing to TB elimination efforts; and strategies to enlist India's corporate sector in the fight against TB.

Myths, beliefs, and attitude toward cancer among the family caregivers of cancer patients: A community-based, mixed-method study in rural Tamil Nadu.

Background and Aim: Family support is one of the most crucial components of cancer care. The familial beliefs and myths associated with cancer can seriously affect the quality of life and treatment outcome of cancer patients. This study intends to explore the prevailing myths, beliefs, and attitude toward cancer among the family caregivers of cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A community-based, exploratory, mixed-method study was conducted among family caregivers of cancer patients in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Content analysis method was used for in-depth interviews. Sociodemographic characteristics and attitude of the study participants were described using proportions. Results: A common myth about causation of cancer was that it was contagious or of infective origin. Disbelief in tobacco's causation of cancer was found among the study participants. Family members' support was viewed as an essential component for cancer patients. Majority of the participants in the quantitative survey showed favorable attitude toward cancer patients. The common misconception about cancer treatment was that surgery/biopsy can spread cancer and herbal products can cure cancer. Conclusion: Even though a majority of the participants showed favorable attitude toward their cancer patients, false beliefs and myths regarding causation and treatment of cancer are prevalent in the community.

Comparison of IGRA and TST in the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis among women of reproductive age in South India.

BACKGROUND: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a mycobacterial infection defined on the basis of cellular immune response to mycobacterial antigens. The tuberculin skin test (TST) and the Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) are the two tests currently used to establish the diagnosis of LTB. Literature suggests that a study regarding tuberculosis (TB) infection among women of reproductive age group is limited. METHODS: Female household contact, married, aged 18-49 years underwent written consent form and are screened for LTBI using the TST and IGRA. Participants are injected with TST [5 tuberculin unit (TU), purified protein derivative (PPD)] and IGRA [QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus kit (QFT-Plus)]. All the household contacts were followed-up for one year for incident TB cases. Statistical analysis was done using STATA version 14 (StataCorp., Texas, USA). Cohen's kappa test was used to determine the agreement between two tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of LTBI was found to be 69% (either TST or IGRA positive). Positivity rate of IGRA was higher when compared to that of TST. Out of 139 participants, 68 (49%) tested positive for TST, 80 (57.6%) tested positive for IGRA and 52 (37.4%) tested positive for both. Discordant results were observed in about two fifth of the study population and there was poor agreement between the two tests. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal studies are required to detect incident TB cases to evaluate the usefulness of these tests. The study was found that IGRA is more consistent to diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection than the TST. Such studies can also be performed in varied settings among different populations which would help us to improve the diagnosis of LTBI and consequently help in TB control.

Effect of treatment adherence on the association between sex and unfavourable treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients in Puducherry, India: a mediation analysis.

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of the complex interplay between risk factors of tuberculosis (TB) is essential. This study was part of the Regional Prospective Observational Research for Tuberculosis (RePORT) India consortium and includes newly diagnosed TB patients in Puducherry between 2014 and 2018. We employed mediation analysis to identify the effect of treatment adherence on association between sex and unfavourable TB treatment outcomes. METHODS: Required demographic and treatment-related variables were extracted from the RePORT India consortium database and causal mediation analysis using parametric regression models was done. RESULTS: Of the 712 TB patients, ~87 (12.2%) had unfavourable TB treatment outcomes. Total effect of male sex was significantly associated with the unfavourable TB treatment outcomes [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-5.55]. However, the overall association between male sex and TB treatment outcomes was dominated by the indirect pathway, as the direct pathway does not show significant association (aOR = 1.67; 95% CI: 0.75-3.75), while the indirect pathway shows significantly higher odds of TB treatment outcomes (aOR = 1.48; 95% CI:1.27-1.73), indicating complete mediation by the treatment adherence. CONCLUSIONS: The study has shown a complete mediation of sexes through TB treatment adherence for unfavourable treatment outcomes. Developing of treatment strategies require better understanding between the biological and social factors related to TB.

Predictors of weight loss during the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment in patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis in South India.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is well-known for causing wasting. Patients on treatment gain weight and weight loss is associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes. There is limited description of weight loss and its predictors during intensive treatment phase. The objective of this study was to assess the predictors of weight loss during intensive phase and to see if there is any association exists with sputum conversion at the end of intensive phase of treatment. METHODS: Data collected as a part of the prospective TB cohort (Regional Prospective Observational Research for TB India Phase 1) conducted in Pondicherry, Cuddalore and Viluppuram districts of Tamil Nadu were used for this study. Sputum smear and body weight comparison were made in the baseline and at the end of second month of treatment. RESULTS: In all, 726 participants had weight measurements at the two time points and 18.7% had weight loss; mean weight lost being 2.3 kg (SD 3.05). Mean weight loss was more among males (2.4 kg, SD 3.2), diabetics (2.8 kg, SD 3.9) and alcoholics (2.1 kg, SD 2.4). Alcohol consumption was the only predictor of weight loss after adjusting for age, diabetes, marital status and BMI (aRR 1.52, P 0.02). Weight loss was not associated with sputum conversion at the end of second month. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use emerged as the major predictor for weight loss during intensive phase.