Respiratory health status is associated with treatment outcomes in pulmonary tuberculosis

<sec id="st1"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> The association between respiratory impairment and tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes is not clear. </sec> <sec id="st2"> <title>METHODS</title> We prospectively evaluated respiratory health status, measured using the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), in a cohort of new adult pulmonary TB cases during and up to 18 months following treatment in India. Associations between total SGRQ scores and poor treatment outcomes of failure, recurrence and all-cause death were measured using multivariable Poisson regression. </sec> <sec id="st3"> <title>RESULTS</title> We enrolled 455 participants contributing 619 person-years at risk; 39 failed treatment, 23 had recurrence and 16 died. The median age was 38 years (interquartile range 26-49); 147 (32%) ever smoked. SGRQ scores at treatment initiation were predictive of death during treatment (14% higher risk per 4-point increase in baseline SGRQ scores, 95%CI 2-28, P = 0.01). Improvement in SGRQ scores during treatment was associated with a lower risk of failure (1% lower risk for every per cent improvement during treatment, 95%CI 1-2, P = 0.05). Clinically relevant worsening in SGRQ scores following successful treatment was associated with a higher risk of recurrence (15% higher risk per 4-point increase scores, 95%CI 4-27, P = 0.004). </sec> <sec id="st4"> <title>CONCLUSION</title> Impaired respiratory health status was associated with poor TB treatment outcomes. The SGRQ may be used to monitor treatment response and predict the risk of death in pulmonary TB. </sec>.

Diabetes and pre-diabetes among household contacts of tuberculosis patients in India: is it time to screen them all?

SETTING

Pre-diabetes mellitus (pre-DM) and DM increase the risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). Screening contacts of TB patients for pre-DM/DM and linking them to care may mitigate the risk of developing TB and improve DM management.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the prevalence of pre-DM/DM and associated factors among the adult household contacts (HHCs) of pulmonary TB patients.

METHODS

Between August 2014 and May 2017, adult HHCs of newly diagnosed adult PTB patients in Pune and Chennai, India, had single blood samples tested for glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at enrolment. DM was defined as previously diagnosed, self-reported DM or HbA1c 6.5%, and pre-DM as HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4%. Latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) was defined as a positive tuberculin skin test (5 mm induration) or QuantiFERON® Gold In-Tube (0.35 international units/ml).

RESULTS

Of 652 adult HHCs, 175 (27%) had pre-DM and 64 (10%) had DM. Forty (64%) HHCs were newly diagnosed with DM and 48 (75%) had poor glycaemic control (HbA1c 7.0%). Sixty-eight (22%) pre-DM cases were aged 18-34 years. Age 35 years, body mass index 25 kg/m2, chronic disease and current tobacco smoking were significantly associated with DM among HHCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult HHCs of TB patients in India have a high prevalence of undiagnosed DM, pre-DM and LTBI, putting them at high risk for developing TB. Routine DM screening should be considered among all adult HHCs of TB.