Health-related quality of life among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Pakistan

Purpose

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of pulmonary TB patients has not been assessed in Pakistan. We assessed self-reported HRQoL of pulmonary TB patients in Karachi, Pakistan utilizing the EQ-5D and EQ-VAS prior to, during, and after completion of TB treatment.

Methods

We enrolled 226 pulmonary TB patients in a longitudinal cohort study. Health-utility scores were estimated by the EQ-5D five dimensions and the EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline (month 0) and each monthly follow-up visit until treatment completion at month 6. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to investigate effect of time into treatment on EQ-5D and EQ-VAS scores.

Results

EQ-5D health utility and EQ-VAS scores increase with treatment progression. For the enrolled TB patients, the mean EQ-5D utility scores more than doubled from 0.43 to 0.88, p?<?.001, effect size η²?=?0.40 from treatment initiation to treatment completion.

Conclusion

Perceived HRQoL of TB patients improves with treatment progression. This can inform targeted treatment plans as well as TB policy and funding for high-burden countries.