Nutritional Supplementation in Tuberculosis Treatment: A Mixed Methods Study of Clinical Outcomes and Patient Perceptions in Jamnagar, India.

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, with malnutrition being a key risk factor for poor outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nutritional supplementation on treatment outcomes in drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis (DS-PTB) patients and explore patient perspectives on nutrition during TB treatment.

METHODS

We conducted a mixed methods study in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat, India. The quantitative component was a retrospective cohort study comparing 645 DS-PTB patients who received nutritional supplements with 645 patients who did not. The primary outcomes were cure rates, mortality, and weight gain. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews of 240 patients to explore their experiences and perceptions regarding nutrition during TB treatment.

RESULTS

Patients receiving nutritional supplements had significantly higher cure rates (482/645, n=74.7% vs 328/645, n=50.9%, OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 2.26-3.61, p<0.001) and lower mortality (7/645, n=1.1% vs 37/645, n=5.7%, OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.08-0.41, p<0.001) compared to the non-supplemented group. The group that received nutritional supplementation showed greater weight gain over six months (6.5 kg vs 3.1 kg, p<0.001). Qualitative findings revealed that patients who received nutritional supplementation reported improved appetite, increased energy, and faster symptom resolution while control group participants faced financial constraints and reduced appetite as barriers to adequate nutrition.

CONCLUSION

Nutritional supplementation significantly improved treatment outcomes in DS-PTB patients, including higher cure rates, reduced mortality, and enhanced weight gain. Patient perspectives highlighted the multifaceted impact of nutritional support. These findings suggest that integrating nutritional supplementation into standard TB care could substantially improve patient outcomes and experiences.