Relapse and complications of brucellosis: Findings of a disease quality registry

Abstract

Background: Brucellosis can be chronic or associated with relapse and complications like other chronic diseases, and quality registry system is required. Aim: This study was designed and carried out with the aim of recording the quality of relapse and complications of brucellosis in Hamadan, west of Iran. Methods: In a quality registry study, in the first phase, all patients referred to Sina Hospital and Imam Khomeini Clinic in Hamadan were entered the study from September 2015 to January 2017. All information of the patients including demographic characteristics, clinical signs and symptoms, complications and laboratory findings have been entered in the questionnaire and designed software of quality regiatry of relapse and complications of brucellosis. Results: A total of 248 patients with brucellosis with a mean age of 43.38± 17.67 (range: 13 to 92) years old were enrolled the study, of which 155 patients (62.5%) were male and 80.65% of patients lived in rural areas.The most common complications were sacroilitis 33.06% ( 95% CI: 27.24%, 39.29%), arthritis 29.44% (95% CI: 23.83%, 35.53%) (the most common involvement were left and right knee joints 38.36% and 35. 62%, respectively), spondylitis 22.98% (95% CI: 17.89%, 28.72%) (in lumbar vertebrae L4 and L5 were 70.18% and 68.24%, respectively), epididymorchitis (14.84%, 95% CI: 9.64%, 21.42%) in men, neurobrucellosis (3.63%, 95% CI: 1.67%, 6.77%), hepatitis (1.21%, 95% CI: 0.25%, 3.53%), and abortion in 3 of 4 pregnant women and one case of eye involvement. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used for evidence-based decision-making to diagnose and better management of relapse and complications in patients with brucellosis.