The risk factors for the relapse of pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Introduction The fight against TB is impossibile when are ignored the measures for prevention and detection of the relapses. The patients with relapse are an important reservoir of infection and account between 2 and 30% of all TB cases. Relapsed TB requires “retreatment” regimen that is more toxic, longer, amplifies the drug resistance and diminished the outcome. Purpose The aim was the assessment of the risk factors for the relapse of the pulmonary drug susceptible and multidrugresistant (MDR-TB) tuberculosis. Material and methods Was realized a retrospective and longitudinal study which included 119 patients with relapse distributed in 2 groups: 1 st Group – 57 cases with drug-susceptible TB and the 2 nd Group – 62 cases of MDR-TB relapse Results Distribution according to sex: male/female ratio=5,3/1 in 1 st Group and 3,8/1 in 2 nd Group (X2<0,001), age <44 years prevailed in 2 nd Group 35 (57%) vs 26 (43%) in 1 st Group. Early relapse (in the first 2 years after treatment completion) predominated in the 1 st Group - 9 (16%) vs 6 (10%) in 2 nd Group, late relapse in 2 nd G -32 (71%) vs 36 (63%) in 1 st Group. History of detention prevailed in the 2 nd Group – 11 (18%) vs 3 (5%) in 1 st Group (X2<0,001, OR=4,1 CI:1,3-17,8), low economical state 50 (81%) in 1 st Group vs 33 (58%) in 2 nd Group (X2=0,002, OR=3,1 CI:1,3-6,9), and comorbidities 19 (31%) in 1 st Group vs 14 (25%) in 2 nd Group. Conclusions The risk factors for the relapse of the MDR-TB were history of detention, which is associated with a close contact and social vulnerability, low economic status and low financial income. No statistical differences were identified regarding the age distribution and comorbidities among the patients with drug susceptible and MDR-TB relapse.