Survival Trend of Tuberculosis Patients and Risk Factors Associated with Mortality and Developing Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia: A Retrospective Study

HIGHLIGHTS: What are the main findings? Higher rate of mortality among drug addict TB patients and an association with abnormal laboratory values. Relapsed TB and alcohol consumers are a high-risk population for developing MDR-TB. What is the implication of the main finding? Assist clinicians in identifying high-risk patients prior to or early in the course of TB treatment, which helps improve treatment outcomes. Further research is necessary to identify risk factors associated with MDR-TB. ABSTRACT: Background: Multidrug resistance TB (MDR-TB) has emerged as a public health issue worldwide, and the mortality rate is worrying. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the factors related to MDR-TB occurrence and the survival experience of TB patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Hospital Pulau Pinang in Malaysia. Medical records of active TB patients from 2014–2018 were reviewed. Cox regression was used to identify the factors associated with MDR-TB development and mortality among TB patients. Results: The patients had a mean age of 48.84 ± 16.713 years, and a majority of the Chinese race (46.4%). Out of 351 TB patients, 325 (92.6%) were drug-susceptible TB, and 26 (7.4%) were diagnosed with MDR-TB. Among drug-susceptible TB patients, 245 (75.4%) achieved successful outcomes, and 73 (22.5%) passed away. In multivariable Cox regression, drug addiction, levels of white blood cells, urea, platelets, and albumin were significantly associated with death. Relapsed TB, alcohol consumption, and being single were significant risk factors for MDR-TB development. Conclusion: Patients achieved a success rate of 75.4%, which is encouraging but still far below the WHO target (at least an 85% success rate) and has room for further improvement.