CXR Patterns & Outcomes in MDR-TB - Saidu Teaching Hospital, Retrospective Cross-Sectional Single Centre Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between baseline chest X-ray patterns and treatment outcomes in MDR-TB patients at Saidu Teaching Hospital, Swat. Specifically, it sought to explore the relationship between radiological features and treatment success or failure, with a focus on gender as a potential predictor of unfavourable outcomes.

Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted involving 350 microbiologically confirmed MDR-TB patients, with data collected from June 2014 to December 2024. Chest X-ray findings, including cavitation, bilateral involvement, and extent of disease, were compared with treatment outcomes categorized as favourable or unfavourable. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used for data analysis.

Results: The study found that 261 (74.6%) patients had favourable outcomes, while 89 (25.4%) had unfavourable outcomes. Gender was significantly associated with treatment outcomes (Chi-square = 13.17, p-value = 0.0218), with male patients having higher odds of unfavourable outcomes (OR = 1.25, p = 0.007). Age did not significantly predict treatment outcomes. Radiological features such as cavitation and bilateral involvement were common but did not show a direct statistical correlation with unfavourable outcomes.

Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of gender as a significant predictor of MDR-TB treatment outcomes, emphasizing the need for gender-specific interventions. Future research should involve multicentre prospective studies to further validate these findings and explore the impact of radiological features in diverse settings.

Keywords: Chest X-ray; Gender; Logistic Regression; Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis; Treatment Outcomes