Treatment options and outcomes of hospitalised tuberculosis patients: a nationwide study.

SETTING

Although standardised multidrug treatments exist, mortality among hospitalised tuberculosis (TB) patients is high.

OBJECTIVE

To characterise TB patients requiring acute hospital care and identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality.

DESIGN

Using a Japanese national database of acute-care hospitals, we identified patients with sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB who were discharged (both deceased and alive) between July 2010 and March 2013. Demographic characteristics, comorbidity, procedures and treatments were examined. We performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Of 877 treated patients (566 males, mean age 74.5 years) identified, 152 (17.3%) died. A standard four-drug regimen of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), ethambutol (EMB) and pyrazinamide was given to 279 (31.8%) patients, and INH, RMP and EMB to 335 (38.2%) patients. Multivariable analysis showed that the three-drug regimen was significantly associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.87, 95%CI 1.07-3.27, P = 0.028). Other factors associated with in-hospital death were age, male sex, smoking habit, emergency admission, dementia and severe respiratory condition.

CONCLUSION

The risk factors for in-hospital death identified include the use of the three-drug regimen. Treatment choice could influence the outcome of hospitalised TB patients.