Risk factors in patients with AFB smear-positive sputum who receive inappropriate antituberculous treatment

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flow diagram of study design.

Abbreviations: AFB, acid-fast bacilli; ATS, American Thoracic Society; NTM, nontuberculosis mycobacteria.

Table 1 Demographic data of patients

Age (years), mean ± SD	69.3 ± 16.193
Range	34–91
Male sex	55 (56.7)
Ever smoker	21 (21.6)
Comorbidities
Diabetes mellitus	12 (12.4)
Old TB history	18 (18.6)
Autoimmune disease	1 (1)
COPD	19 (19.6)
Chronic kidney disease	3 (3.1)
Malignancy	2 (2.1)
Liver cirrhosis	2 (2.1)
Presenting symptom
Chronic cough	69 (71.1)
Sputum production	54 (55.7)
Fever	21 (21.6)
Hemoptysis	6 (6.2)
Chest pain	2 (2.1)
AFB of sputum
1+	76 (78.4)
2+	11 (11.3)
3+	8 (8.2)
4+	2 (2.1)
2+ to 4+	21 (21.6)
Positive PCR	12 (12.4)
NTM lung disease	18 (18.6)
Received anti-TB treatment	25 (25.8)

Note: Data are n (%) unless specified otherwise.

Abbreviations: AFB, acid-fast bacilli; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NTM, non-TB mycobacteria; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; SD, standard deviation; TB, tuberculosis.

Table 2 Comparison of clinical characteristics

	Treated appropriately (n = 72)	Treated inappropriately (n = 25)	P-value
Demographic data
Age (years), mean ± SD	70.58 ± 15.738	65.68 ± 17.25	0.194
Male sex	41 (56.9)	14 (56)	0.935
Smoker	16 (22.2)	5 (20)	0.816
Diabetes mellitus	10 (13.9)	2 (8)	0.725
TB history	12 (16.7)	6 (24)	0.551
Autoimmune disease	1 (1.4)	0 (0)	1
COPD	17 (23.6)	2 (8)	0.142
Chronic kidney disease	3 (4.2)	0 (0)	0.567
Malignancy	2 (2.8)	0 (0)	1
Liver cirrhosis	2 (2.8)	0 (0)	1
Presenting symptom
Chronic cough	46 (63.9)	23 (92)	0.008
Sputum	38 (52.8)	16 (64)	0.33
Fever	15 (20.8)	6 (24)	0.74
Hemoptysis	6 (8.3)	0 (0)	0.334
Chest pain	0 (0)	2 (8)	0.064
AFB of sputum
2+ to 4+	12 (16.7)	9 (36)	0.043
Positive PCR	7 (9.7)	5 (20)	0.287

Note: Data are n (%) unless specified otherwise.

Abbreviations: AFB, acid-fast bacilli; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; SD, standard deviation; TB, tuberculosis.

Table 3 Comparison of radiographic characteristics

	Treated appropriately (n = 72)	Treated inappropriately (n = 25)	P-value
Chest plain film (n = 97)
Affected lung			0.841
Unilateral	17 (23.6)	5 (20)
Bilateral	44 (61.1)	17 (68)
Pleural effusion			0.536
Unilateral	10 (13.9)	4 (16)
Bilateral	5 (6.9)	0 (0)
Pleural lesion	12 (16.7)	4 (16)	1
Fibrothorax	3 (4.2)	1 (4)	1
Cavitation	0 (0)	1 (4)	0.258
Consolidation	16 (22.2)	3 (12)	0.383
Nodular or reticulonodular lesions	48 (66.7)	19 (76)	0.384
Honeycomb	4 (5.6)	2 (8)	0.646
Atelectasis	16 (22.2)	5 (20)	1

Note: Data are n (%) unless specified otherwise.