Determinants of treatment success among drug-susceptible tuberculosis patients in Ghana: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundAchieving optimal rates of success in tuberculosis treatment is vital not just for the individual patients well-being but also for preventing the rise of drug-resistant tuberculosis strains. Unfavourable treatment outcomes pose significant challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. Identifying the factors that determine treatment success is crucial for implementing effective interventions that enhance treatment outcomes and contribute to the eradication of the disease. As a result, this study aimed to assess tuberculosis treatment outcomes and identify factors associated with treatment success. MethodsPatients diagnosed with active tuberculosis were closely monitored from the start of their treatment until its completion from January 2021 to June 2022. A data collection tool, developed using Redcap and aligned with the study objectives, was utilized to gather demographic information, and adverse reactions to antitubercular medicines and track the treatment outcomes of the participants. The participants quality of life was assessed using the Short-form 12 version 2 questionnaire at baseline, as well as at the end of the second and sixth months. Logistic regression was employed to evaluate the association between various participant characteristics and treatment success, with odds ratios used to quantify the strength of the associations. ResultsAmong 378 participants, 77.3% had successful TB treatment, while 13.5% were lost to follow-up, 0.5% experienced treatment failure, and 8.7% died. Factors influencing treatment success included initial body weight, weight gain during treatment, HIV status, drug adverse reactions, and mental well-being at the beginning of treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that gaining at least 3kg during treatment and having no risk of depression at the beginning significantly increased the likelihood of successful treatment. ConclusionPatients with tuberculosis who experience compromised physical and mental health-related quality of life, encounter adverse reactions to antitubercular drugs and have concurrent HIV infection should receive close monitoring and personalized interventions to improve their chances of treatment success.