RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical profile of cases, evaluation of comorbidities and problems encountered in initiation of second-line drugs for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was conducted on MDR patients admitted in drug resistance tuberculosis (DRTB) center of RDGMC Surasa Ujjain, a rural medical college, over a span of one year. RESULTS: Out of 130 admitted cases, majority (30%) were between 31 and 40 years of age. Males were predominant (70%). Females were significantly younger compared to males (p=0.00308). Most patients (83.8%) were underweight (body mass index (BMI)<18.5kg/m2). According to MDR-TB suspect criteria, majority were defaulter cases (39.23%). The anemia was the most common comorbidity (73.84%) among the study group followed by diabetes mellitus (9.23%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (9.23%), 10 (7.69) asthma, 10 (7.69%) thyroid disease 9 (6.92%) followed by respiratory insufficiency 4 (3%), HIV 2 (1.5%), deep venous thrombosis (DVT) 2 (1.5%), renal failure 2 (1.5%), and hepatic failure 1 (0.76%). Majority had minimal lesion - 57 (43.8%), moderate - 38 (29.2%), and moderate advanced - 23 (17.7%) while far advanced was noted on X-rays in 12 (9.2%). A total of 91 (70%) cases had non-cavitary lesions and 39 (30%) had cavitary lesions, of which 27 were unilateral and 12 were bilateral. CONCLUSION: The males were predominant in our study however females were affected at a younger age compared to the males. Most of the patients had taken Anti tuberculosis treatment (ATT) from Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) in which defaulter and relapse were the major contributors of MDR-TB cases in our study. Radiological extent of lesions of these patients was less than expectation. Management of comorbidities is essential for compliance to treatment. It necessitates prolonged hospitalization and requires frequent follow-up in the DRTB center.
