A retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes of drug-susceptible TB in Kazakhstan, 2013–2016

Kazakhstan has a high burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). The patient-centered National Program for the treatment and prevention of TB has been implemented in Kazakhstan. The program is aimed at meeting the needs of patients and expansion of the outpatient treatment of TB in the country. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of the outpatient and inpatient treatment of drug-susceptible TB. This study was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 36.926 TB cases were included. The majority of patients were treated as inpatients. The socioeconomic factors, sex, age, HIV status, and other diagnostic factors (e.g., sputum smear results, extrapulmonary disease) may serve as risk factors to estimate the likely TB treatment outcome. The outpatient treatment of drug-susceptible TB seems to be a comparable option to the inpatient treatment in terms of efficacy. The socioeconomic factors are the main modifiable risk factors for treatment failure. The outpatient treatment of drug-susceptible TB is safe and effective.