title: Predictors of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment outcomes in South Korea: a prospective cohort study, 2005-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis remains an important health concern in many countries. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of unfavorable outcomes at the end of treatment (EOT) and at the end of study (EOS; 40 months after EOT) in South Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  New or previously treated tuberculosis patients were recruited into a prospective observational cohort study at two hospitals in South Korea. To identify predictors of unfavorable outcomes at EOT and EOS, logistic regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was 8.2% in new cases and 57.9% in previously treated cases. Of new cases, 68.6% were cured, as were 40.7% of previously treated cases. At EOT, diabetes, ≥3 previous TB episodes, ≥1 significant regimen change, and MDR-TB were significantly associated with treatment failure or death. At EOS, age ≥35, body-mass index (BMI) <18.5, diabetes, and MDR-TB were significantly associated with treatment failure, death, or relapse. Among cases that were cured at EOT, age ≥50 and a BMI <18.5 were associated with subsequent death or relapse during follow-up to EOS. Treatment interruption was associated with service sector employees or laborers, bilateral lesions on chest X-ray, and previous treatment failure or treatment interruption history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk factors for poor treatment outcomes at EOT and EOS include both patient factors (diabetes status, age, BMI) and disease factors (history of multiple previous treatment episodes, MDR-TB). In this longitudinal, observational cohort study, diabetes mellitus and MDR-TB were risk factors for poor treatment outcomes and relapse. Measures to help ensure that the first tuberculosis treatment episode is also the last one may improve treatment outcomes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00341601.
authors.forename: Hongjo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Myungsun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ray Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Youngran
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Joon Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.forename: Seung Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Lori E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Jongseok
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Taeksun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Lisa C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Goldfeder
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Via
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Clifton E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: International Tuberculosis Research Center, Changwon, Republic of Korea. raycho@yonsei.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Nae
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents