Health-related quality of life in patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (in Spanish)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Despite the fact that pulmonary tuberculosis is an endemic disease in Ecuador, the effect of the disease on the quality of life of patients has not been studied. OBJECTIVE. To assess the quality of life in a cohort of patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis from Quito. MATERIALS AND METHODS. An analytical observational study was conducted in 15 primary care centers in Quito during the months of May and June 2015. Thirty cases and 60 healthy controls were included. The data were collected through a survey and the review of medical records. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire second version in Spanish. A univariate and bivariate analysis was performed between the independent and dependent variables (Quality of life). A multivariate analysis identified factors associated with quality of life. RESULTS. Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis presented a low quality of life compared to controls (MD = 34.11 CI 29.7-38.4). The most affected dimension was physical function (MD = 46.5 CI 39.2 - 53.8) and the least affected was body pain (MD = 24.1 CI 16.9 - 31.4). The determining factors for quality of life (in addition to pulmonary tuberculosis) were marital status, unemployment, poverty, and having some comorbidity (p <0.005). CONCLUSION. Pulmonary tuberculosis is a determining factor in the deterioration of the quality of life in patients. The clinical management guidelines should include the assessment of quality of life at the beginning and at the end of treatment.