A retrospective study of death among patients treated for tuberculosis in the Klang Chest Clinic for the year 1999.
A retrospective epidemiological study was done on 41 deaths among patients treated for TB in the Klang Chest Clinic for the year 1999. The findings revealed a male preponderance of TB deaths with Indians having the highest case fatality rate (8.6%). The majority of deaths occurred within the 25-44 year age group. Of those cases diagnosed as Pulmonary TB, 69% were diagnosed as far-advanced, at presentation, based on chest x-rays reported. Eighty three percent of these patients were still on treatment when they died. HIV was the most common co-existing disease condition and was implicated in 14.6% of the deaths. The recommendations include implementation of clinical guidelines on TB screening for HIV patients, a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the current TB surveillance programme and for chest x-rays of all sputum smear negative patients to be reported by the radiologist to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis.
Venugopalan
B
B
Epidemiology Unit, Selangor Health Department, Shah Alam, Selangor.
Rajendra
P
P
D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy