Do tuberculosis patients weighing less than 35kg need more attention?

Ramachandran, R.; Balasubramanian, R.; Muniyandi, M.; Gopi, P.G.

Journal of Empirical Research in Social Science; 2009; 4; 33-39.

Abstract: A retrospective study was done to identify the patients with low-body weight registered under programme and their response to tuberculosis treatment under DOTS in a rural area. Of 4053 patients registered, over a period of four years, 12% of male and 41% of female patients were weighing = 35kg; the mortality among males was 14% (in patients weighing = 35kg vs > 35kg in CAT-I 15% vs 3%; in CAT-II 17% vs 15%; in CAT-III 11% vs 3%) and among females 6%. This is higher than the acceptable national average of 4%. In the current series mortality among males in the = 35kg group was 2.5 times more as compared to females. The treatment success rate increased as the body weight increased and the increase in trend was statistically significant (Trend Chi square 22.0; p < 0.001). The adverse reactions observed were significantly more among patients weighing = 35kg as compared to > 35kg (38% vs 32%; p < 0.001). Thus to improve the overall performance of RNTCP, there is a need to pay more attention to patients weighing = 35 kgs.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, body weight, treatment outcomes in DOTS programme, India

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