Objective.
To determine the factors associated with the unsuccessful treatment of patients diagnosed with drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB) in Paraguay.
Methods.
Retrospective cohort study, with data collected from the national program between January 2016 and March 2017. Unsuccessful treatment was defined as patients who were lost to follow-up, failed treatment, or died. Factors associated with unsuccessful treatment were determined using Poisson regression; the adjusted relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated by health region.
Results.
A total of 3 034 cases were studied: 2 189 (72.1%) were successfully treated (cured: 1 221 [40.2%], complete treatment: 968 [31.9%]) and 845 (27.9%) were unsuccessfully treated (treatment failure: 40 [1.3%], loss to follow-up: 466 [15.4%] and deaths: 339 [11.2%]). Factors associated with unsuccessful treatment were masculine sex 1.28 (1.14- 1.42), indigenous descent 1.3 (1.09- 1.54), lack of report of area of residence 1.27
(1.02- 1.57), TB/HIV coinfection 1.97 (1, 63- 2.38), illicit drug addiction 1.38 (1.16- 1.63), alcohol consumption 1.25 (1.02- 1.52), previous treatment 1.23 (1.10- 1.38) and lack of treatment monitoring data 4.92 (3.69- 6.56). Being deprived of liberty 0.65 (0.47- 0.89) and TB/diabetes comorbidity 0.80 (0.67- 0.95) were considered protective factors.
Conclusion.
Paraguay has a high percentage of unsuccessful treatment in almost the entire country, without reaching the target proposed by the World Health Organization. Associated risk factors such as HIV, consumption of legal and illicit drugs, and being indigenous highlight the need to revise the treatment strategies with an inter-institutional approach.