A study on tuberculosis treatment outcome in known diabetic patients treated under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program in Bengaluru

Background: The rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries may adversely affect TB control. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) prescribes the same TB treatment regimen that is used for non-diabetics to the diabetics. Under the program setting, there is a need for study on successful treatment outcome of TB patients with known DM. Objective: The aim was to analyze the TB treatment outcome in patients with known DM treated under RNTCP setting in an urban area. Materials and Methods: After cluster sampling among the 9 TB Units in Bengaluru 5 were selected randomly. 75 TB-DM patients and 150 TB without Diabetes were enrolled into the study and followed-up for their treatment outcome. Results: Of the 75 TB-DM patients 72% were males, and 28% were females. >90% of the patients were of age above 40 years old. Overall treatment outcome was 81% and 87% among TB-DM and TB without DM, respectively. It was not statistically significant (Fisher’s exact test P = 0.3256). Conclusion: RNTCP’s directly observed treatment strategy (DOTS) regimen holds good for TB patients with and without DM. The DM co-morbidity did not significantly change the TB treatment outcome. Hence, the current DOTS regime under RNTCP can be applied to the TB-DM co-morbid patients.