Survival Analysis of Time to Cure on Tuberculosis Patients in Dhemaji District, Assam, India

Abstract

Introduction: We conducted the records of 1500 confirmed cases of tuberculosis patients were reviewed in Dhemaji district of Assam, 2019.   

Objectives: The aim of this study was to study the recovery time of tuberculosis patients using survival analysis technique and to assess the association and impact of covariates (TB risk factors) to event status and Survival time.

Methods: Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test were used to assess the differences in survival among the patients, while Cox-regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed using binary logistic regression analysis. The significance levels for all the tests were set at 0.05.

Results: In this study, the 1500 TB patients in Dhemaji were assessed out of 1038 male patients, 512 (49.33%) were censored and 526 (50.67%) were cured of TB. Again out of 462 female, 226 (48.92%) were censored and 236 (51.08%) were cured of TB. Overall, the median recovery time of TB patients in Dhemaji was 180 days (approx.), which means that the recovery time of patients is within the recommended treatment interval of 160 to 220 days or longer given close monitoring of patients while taking drugs. The results of binary logistic regression analysis show that disease type (OR = 2.171, 95% CI 1.771–2.662), diabetes status (OR = 1.966, 95% CI 1.632–2.364) and residence (OR = 1.241, 95% CI 1.048– 1.469), were risk factors for tuberculosis. These results can provide insights on local tuberculosis early increase public health awareness, intervention and strengthen the control of factors that may affect the survival and tuberculosis patients.

Conclusions: In conclusion, overcrowding, smoking, tuberculosis (TB) were important risk factors and negatively affected the survival rates of TB patients in Dhemaji. At the same time, Disease Type, Diabetes status, Type of Patients and Residence, were significant risk factors and negatively affected the survival rates of TB patients in Dhemaji. The results suggested that the mycobacterium tuberculosis drug sensitivity test should be strengthened.