Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem in southeast Asia, especially in India. Persons with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) are commonly anemic, especially in poor low-socioeconomic population. Here, we assessed the TB treatment outcome in anemic and nonanemic TB patients.
Materials and methods: A total of 302 patients more than 18 years old with confirmed PTB were included from Government Medical College-associated hospital, Datia, Madhya Pradesh, in 2023. Anemia severity (mild, moderate, and severe) based on hemoglobin (Hb) estimation. Anemia associated with unfavorable outcome (death, failure, lost to follow-up, regimen modification, or relapse), compared with treatment success (cure or treatment completion).
Results: Out of 302 participants, 210 (69.53%) were anemic at baseline. Patients with moderate/severe anemia were more symptomatic and had higher frequencies of unfavorable outcomes compared with the other groups. Severe anemia was associated with unfavorable outcomes like death.
Conclusion: Pulmonary TB patient with moderate to severe anemia has significant impact on antitubercular treatment (ATT) outcome and significant risk factor for death.
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