Weight gain in patients with tuberculosis treated under directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS).

Vasantha, M.; Gopi, P.G.; Subramani. R.

Indian Journal of Tuberculosis; 2009; 56; 5-9.

Summary: Set up : One Tuberculosis Unit (TU) in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India where Tuberculosis (TB) patients treated under Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) programme.

Objective : To identify the effects of weight gain among TB patients at the end of treatment on different factors such as socio-economic and demographic characteristics, smoking and drinking habits, treatment under supervision, the type of DOTS centres and problems in taking drugs.

Methods : TB patients registered between May 1999 and December 2004 formed the study population. Multiple regression method was used for the analysis.

Results: Among 1557 smear-positive TB patients registered under DOTS programme, the changes in weight ranged from a loss of 4 kgs to a gain of 20 kgs at the end of TB treatment; the average change in weight was 3.22 kgs. The gain in weight at the end of treatment was associated with age (<45 years), DOT at government centres, no problems in taking drugs as reported by patients and cure rate.

Conclusion : The findings showed that there is an association between gain in weight with DOT at government centres and cure of patients.

Key words : Tuberculosis, Weight gain after treatment, Multiple regression.

Back to List of publications / Home