Assessment of Effective Anti-TB Regimens and Adverse Outcomes Related Risk Factors in the Elderly and Senile-Aged TB Patients

OBJECTIVE: Compared to younger patients with tuberculosis (TB), elderly and senile-aged patients with TB had a higher incidence of adverse outcomes particularly in terms of lost to follow-up and deaths. Our study aimed to gain insight into the effectiveness of anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) treatment in the elderly or senile-aged patients and identify the risk factors for adverse outcomes. METHODS: The case information was obtained from the “Tuberculosis Management Information System”. From January 2011 to December 2021, this retrospective analysis was conducted in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province to observe and record the outcomes of elderly patients diagnosed with TB who agreed to receive anti-TB and(or) traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) treatment. We also employed a logistic regression model to analyze the risk factors for adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 1191 elderly or senile-aged patients with TB who received the treatment, the success rate was 84.80% (1010/1191). Using logistic regression analysis, several risk factors for adverse outcomes (failure, death, loss to follow-up) were identified, including age ≥ 80 years (OR 2.186, 95% CI 1.517~3.152, P<0.001), lesion area ≥ 3 lung fields (OR 0.410, 95% CI 0.260~0.648, P<0.001), radiographic lesions failing to improve after 2 months of treatment (OR 2.048, 95% CI 1.302~3.223, P=0.002), sputum bacteriology failing to turn negative after 2 months of treatment (OR 2.213, 95% CI 1.227~3.990, P=0.008), lack of a standardized treatment plan (OR 2.095, 95% CI 1.398~3.139, P<0.001), and non-involvement of traditional Chinese medicine (OR 2.589, 95% CI 1.589~4.216, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The anti-TB treatment success rate in the elderly and senile-aged patients is suboptimal. Contributing factors include advanced age, extensive lesions, and low sputum negative conversion rate during the intensive treatment phase. The results will informative and could be useful for policy maker for to control of reemergence of TB in big cities.