Mortality in successfully treated tuberculosis patients in southern Ethiopia: retrospective follow-up study.

SETTING

The tuberculosis (TB) programme in the Sidama zone of southern Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE

To measure excess mortality in successfully treated TB patients.

DESIGN

In a retrospective cohort study of TB patients treated from 1998 to 2006, mortality was used as an outcome measure, and was calculated per 100 person-years of observation (PYO) from the date of completion of treatment to date of interview if the patient was alive, or to date of death. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods were used to determine the survival and hazard ratios. An indirect method of standardisation was used to calculate the standard mortality ratio (SMR).

RESULTS

A total of 725 TB patients were followed for 2602 person-years: 91.1% (659/723) were alive and 8.9% (64/723) had died. The mortality rate was 2.5% per annum. Sex, age and occupation were associated with high mortality. More deaths occurred in non-farmers (SMR = 9.95, 95%CI 7.17-12.73).

DISCUSSION

The mortality rate was higher in TB patients than in the general population. More deaths occurred in non-farmers, men and the elderly. Further studies are required to identify the causes of death in these patients.