Treatment success and mortality among people with multi-drug resistant and rifampicin resistant-tuberculosis on bedaquiline-based regimen at three referral hospitals in Uganda: A retrospective analysis

Introduction

In Uganda, people with multi-drug resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) have been treated with a bedaquiline-based regimen since 2020. Still, their treatment outcomes have not been rigorously studied. We describe the treatment outcomes of people with MDR/RR-TB treated with a bedaquiline-based regimen and analyze the factors associated with their treatment success at three referral hospitals in Uganda.

Method and materials

We retrospectively reviewed medical records for people with MDR/RR-TB treated with a bedaquiline-based regimen between January 2020 and December 2021 at 3 referral hospitals. Treatment success was defined as cure or treatment completion on a binary scale at the end of the MDR/RR-TB treatment. Factors independently associated with treatment success were analyzed using the modified Poisson regression analysis with robust standard errors, reported as risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Analyses were performed at a 5% level of statistical significance.

Results

Of 71 participants aged ≥ 15 years, 13 (18.3 %) completed treatment, 46 (64.8) were cured, 8 (11.3) died, and 4 were lost to follow-up. Overall, 59 (83.1) were successfully treated. Current alcohol consumption (adjusted RR [aRR] 0. 78, 95 % CI 0.60–0. 99) and high aspartate aminotransferase levels (aRR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.60–0.98) were associated with a lower treatment success.

Conclusion

The treatment success among people with MDR/RR-TB on a bedaquiline-based regimen was relatively high. High AST levels and alcohol consumption are associated with a lower treatment success. There is a need to strengthen psychosocial support regarding the harmful effects of alcohol consumption and its interaction with drugs, including routine monitoring of liver function to enhance the TB treatment success.

Our study is the first to describe treatment success among people with MDR/RR-TB in three large hospitals in Uganda, this provides a good picture of treatment success among people with MDR/RR-TB on bedaquiline-based regimens in the country. The weaknesses are the smaller sample size, we analyzed data spanning a relatively shorter period, and alcohol use was measured by self-reporting, this might have underestimated its association with treatment success.