Tuberculosis recurrence in smear-positive patients cured under DOTS in southern Ethiopia: retrospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Decentralization of DOTS has increased the number of cured smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) patients. However, the rate of recurrence has increased mainly due to HIV infection. Recurrence rate could be taken as an important measure of long-term success of TB treatment. We aimed to find out the rate of recurrence in smear-positive patients cured under DOTS in southern Ethiopia.


METHODS
We did a retrospective cohort study on cured smear-positive TB patients who were treated from 1998 to 2006. Recurrence of smear-positive TB was used as an outcome measure. Person-years of observation (PYO) were calculated per 100 PYO from the date of cure to date of interview. Kaplan-Meier and Cox-regression methods were used to determine the survival and the hazard ratio (HR).


RESULTS
368 cured smear-positive TB patients which were followed for 1463 person-years. Of these, 187 patients (50.8%) were men, 277 patients (75.5%) were married, 157 (44.2%) were illiterate, and 152 patients (41.3%) were farmers. 15 of 368 smear-positive patients had recurrence. The rate of recurrence was 1 per 100 PYO (0.01 per annum). Recurrence was not associated with age, sex, occupation, marital status and level of education.


CONCLUSIONS
High recurrence rate occurred among smear-positive patients cured under DOTS. Further studies are required to identify factors contributing to high recurrence rates to improve disease free survival of TB patients after treatment.
Datiko
Daniel G
DG
Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Overlege Danielsens Hus, Arstadveien 21, 5009 Bergen, Norway. danieljohn42@yahoo.com
Lindtjørn
Bernt
B
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult