Mortality among tuberculosis patients in Saudi Arabia (2001–2010)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) still contributes to deaths in Saudi Arabia, among both Saudis and non-Saudis. Exploring the trend of deaths caused by TB and determinants associated with high fatality rate among TB patients is considered as a part of monitoring and evaluation of the performance of National Tuberculosis Control Program to help planners improve policies and procedures used to achieve the targets of TB control. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: The current study is a retrospective one, which used the official notifications of NTP in Saudi Arabia over a period of 10 years (2001–2010). METHODS: A 10-year retrospective study included all TB cases registered in Saudi Arabia with known outcome of survival or death while under anti-TB therapy covering the period January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2010. RESULTS: Mortality among TB patients show a declining trend among Saudis starting from the year 2003 (7.2%–6.1%) and a stagnant trend among non-Saudis. Saudi nationality was associated with higher fatality rate compared to non-Saudis (6.4% and 5.4%, respectively). Mortality was positively correlated with advancing age, male sex among Saudis (7.3% compared to 5.3% among females), and female sex among non-Saudis (6% compared to 5% among males), prior history of anti-TB therapy, smear positivity, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend WHO to modify the definition of death among TB patients. We recommend NTP in Saudi Arabia to adopt and implement International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) for TB patients’ registration, improve health care services provided for elderly, monitor and strengthen NTP performance to decrease defaulter and early detect and treat patients, initiate a collaborative TB/HIV activities, and screen all suspected TB patients for HIV. In addition to these, more extended research has to be initiated concerning delayed diagnosis and comorbidities with TB.