背景:耐多药结核病(MDR-TB)是与高发病率和死亡率相关的全球健康威胁。诊断和治疗延迟与MDR-TB患者的不良治疗结果相关。然而,与这些延误相关的风险因素没有得到强有力的调查,特别是在结核病负担较高的国家,如中国。因此,本研究旨在调查湖南省耐多药结核病患者诊断和治疗延迟的时间长短,并确定其危险因素。
方法:采用2013-2018年湖南省耐多药结核病数据进行回顾性队列研究。该研究的主要结果是诊断和治疗延迟,定义为从症状出现之日起至诊断确认超过14天(即,诊断延迟)和从诊断到治疗开始(即,治疗延迟)。拟合多元逻辑回归模型,采用95%置信区间(CI)的校正比值比(AOR)来确定与诊断和治疗延迟相关的因素.
结果:总计,1,248例耐多药结核病患者被纳入本研究。诊断延迟的中位时间为27天,治疗延迟一天。耐多药结核病患者出现诊断和治疗延迟的比例为62.82%(95%CI:60.09-65.46)和30.77%(95%CI:28.27-33.39),分别。通过转诊和追踪的患者经历MDR-TB诊断延迟的几率降低了41%(AOR=0.59,95%CI:0.45-0.76),相对于因症状通过咨询确定的患者。在≥65岁的儿童中,诊断延迟的几率比15岁以下儿童低65%(AOR=0.35,0.14-0.91)。与当地人口相比,外国民族和其他省份的人出现治疗延迟的可能性是两倍(AOR=2.00,95%CI:1.31-3.06)。同样,重症患者出现治疗延迟的几率是非重症患者的近2.5倍(AOR=2.49,95%CI:1.41~4.42).另一方面,与新的MDR-TB病例相比,以前治疗过的TB病例出现治疗延迟的几率降低近40%(AOR=0.59,95%CI:0.42~0.85).同样,其他少数民族群体出现治疗延迟的几率比汉族群体低近40%(AOR=0.57,95%CI:0.34-0.96).
结论:湖南省许多耐多药结核病患者经历了长时间的诊断和治疗延误。加强主动病例检测可以显着减少MDR-TB患者的诊断延迟。此外,关注新接受耐多药结核病治疗的患者,病得很重,或来自湖南省以外的地区将有可能减轻耐多药结核病患者的治疗延误负担。
BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a global health threat associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Diagnosis and treatment delays are associated with poor treatment outcomes in patients with MDR-TB. However, the risk factors associated with these delays are not robustly investigated, particularly in high TB burden countries such as China. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the length of diagnosis and treatment delays and identify their risk factors among patients with MDR-TB in Hunan province.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using MDR-TB data from Hunan province between 2013 and 2018. The main outcomes of the study were diagnosis and treatment delay, defined as more than 14 days from the date of symptom to diagnosis confirmation (i.e., diagnosis delay) and from diagnosis to treatment commencement (i.e., treatment delay). A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted, and an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify factors associated with diagnosis and treatment delay.
RESULTS: In total, 1,248 MDR-TB patients were included in this study. The median length of diagnosis delays was 27 days, and treatment delays were one day. The proportion of MDR-TB patients who experienced diagnosis and treatment delay was 62.82% (95% CI: 60.09-65.46) and 30.77% (95% CI: 28.27-33.39), respectively. The odds of experiencing MDR-TB diagnosis delay among patients coming through referral and tracing was reduced by 41% (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45-0.76) relative to patients identified through consultations due to symptoms. The odds of experiencing diagnosis delay among ≥ 65 years were 65% (AOR = 0.35, 0.14-0.91) lower than under-15 children. The odds of developing treatment delay among foreign nationalities and people from other provinces were double (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.31-3.06) compared to the local populations. Similarly, the odds of experiencing treatment delay among severely ill patients were nearly 2.5 times higher (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.41-4.42) compared to patients who were not severely ill. On the other hand, previously treated TB cases had nearly 40% (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42-0.85) lower odds of developing treatment delay compared with new MDR-TB cases. Similarly, other ethnic minority groups had nearly 40% (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.96) lower odds of experiencing treatment delay than the Han majority.
CONCLUSIONS: Many MDR-TB patients experience long diagnosis and treatment delays in Hunan province. Strengthening active case detection can significantly reduce diagnosis delays among MDR-TB patients. Moreover, giving attention to patients who are new to MDR-TB treatment, are severely ill, or are from areas outside Hunan province will potentially reduce the burden of treatment delay among MDR-TB patients.