Treatment Outcomes and Risk Factors Associated with Unsuccessful Treatment Outcomes among Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Abstract

Background The World Health Organization report 2021 states that about 10.6 million people got tuberculosis, and 17.0% of them had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. There is not much published research on extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in Pakistan. The objective of this study was to find out the success rate and the predictors for unsuccessful treatment outcomes of EPTB patients. Methods This study was retrospective cohort study, the study included 320 EPTB patients who were registered and treated at BMCH Quetta, Balochistan, from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021. SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data, and a p-value 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results The treatment had a success rate of 74.4% overall, with 12.4% of the patients LTFU, 5.6% died, and 2.4% failed the treatment. Age older than 60 years (OR = 10.440, p = 0.000) and having meningeal tuberculosis (OR = 3.506, p = 0.008) were found to be predictors for unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Conclusion The success rate of EPTB did not meet the End TB Strategy’s goal of >90%, as set by the World Health Organization. Therefore, elderly patients and those with meningeal tuberculosis need special attention to improve treatment outcomes.