Characteristics of Poor Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes among Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Community Hospitals of Thailand.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a major global public health problem. Thailand is listed as one of the countries with a high burden of pulmonary TB. Various factors are known to contribute to unsuccessful pulmonary TB treatment. However, studies in Thailand remain limited, especially in rural settings. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and associated factors of unsuccessful pulmonary TB treatment in community hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June-July 2019. We enrolled all patients receiving treatments in four community hospitals in central Thailand. The collected data included baseline characteristics, comorbid illnesses, a history of directly observed treatment-short course (DOTS), sputum acid-fast bacilli smear results, and chest radiography and treatment outcomes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with unsuccessful pulmonary TB treatment. A total of 786 patients were enrolled in the study. Prevalence of unsuccessful treatment was 18.7%. Associated factors of unsuccessful pulmonary TB treatment were previously treated TB (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-3.7), existence of comorbid illnesses (AOR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.5-5.0), DOTS not performed (AOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4-4.5), chest radiography showing multiple lung lesions at first diagnosis (AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.7-5.2), no chest radiography improvement in the first follow-up (AOR: 17.7, 95% CI: 8.2-38.0), and unknown status of chest radiography in the first follow-up (AOR: 48.1, 95% CI: 22.3-103.5). Health promotion and primary care should be implemented in the communities to achieve ultimate successful treatment.

Prevalence and associated factors influencing depression in older adults living in rural Thailand: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: Depression is a major disease burden in Thailand. In rural areas, young adults will leave home to work in cities, and older adults are left behind. Loneliness and comorbidities can lead to depression in older adults. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors for geriatric depression. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Questionnaires including the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale and family relationship were obtained by healthcare professions by face-to-face interviews of 584 older people aged ≥60 years in Ban Nayao community, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Geriatric depression can be defined as depressive syndromes that arise in adults aged ≥60 years. We excluded those who had visual or auditory disabilities or did not pass the Thai Mini-Mental Status Examination. The prevalence and associated factors for geriatric depression were obtained. Associated factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 433 older people were eligible. The prevalence of geriatric depression was 18.5%. Of the participants, 54.1% lived in an imbalanced family type. Multivariate analysis showed the significance for female sex (adjusted OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.54-7.49, P = 0.01), illiteracy (adjusted OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.19-6.17, P-value 0.04), current smoker (adjusted OR 4.25, 95% CI 2.12-10.18, P = 0.009) and imbalanced family type (low attachment, low cooperation and poor alignment between each member; adjusted OR 4.52, 95% CI 2.14-7.86, P < 0.001) as risk factors for depression. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of geriatric depression in rural Thailand is high. Imbalanced family type is an important risk factor for geriatric depression in the rural community. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 1248-1253.