Evaluation of risk factors associated with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Yemen: data from centres with high drug resistance

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that Yemen has a high burden of drug resistance and a worrying shortage of implemented diagnostic methods and drug treatment regimens. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and explored the poor TB management in Yemen.MethodsBetween January 2014 and December 2016, we enrolled 135 patients with MDR-TB from drug resistance programmes at four major TB centres in Yemen for this prospective study. After exclusion of 20 patients, treatment outcomes were reported for 115 patients who attended a series of follow-ups.ResultsA total of 115 patients with MDR-TB were analysed from the four main TB centres in Yemen. Most patients (35.2%) were from the Aden TB centre. A success rate of 77.4% was reported for TB treatment. Of the 115 patients, 69.6% were resistant to two drugs, 18.3% were resistant to three drugs, and 12.2% were resistant to four drugs. During the intensive phase of treatment, 19 patients (16.5%) reported one or more adverse events. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a baseline body weight of 40kg [p=0.016; adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=25.09], comorbidity (p=0.049; AOR=4.73), baseline lung cavities (p=0.004; AOR=15.32), and positive culture at the end of the intensive phase (p=0.009; AOR=8.83) were associated with the unsuccessful treatment outcomes in drug-resistant TB patients.ConclusionsThe success rate achieved after treatment was below the levels established by the WHO End TB Strategy (90%) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (80%). Identification of risk factors associated with MDR-TB in Yemen is essential because it allows health workers to identify high-risk patients, especially in the absence of a second-line treatment or a laboratory diagnostic method. The Yemen National Tuberculosis Control Program should formulate new strategies for early detection of MDR-TB and invest in new programmes for MDR-TB management.