Health-related quality of life of tuberculosis patients in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

ObjectivesThe study aims to compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) with non-DR-TB, explore any possible association between QOL domains and demographic and clinical variables, and determine the predictors of QOL.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional study conducted in an anti-tuberculosis centre (74 DR-TB and 99 non-DR-TB patients). Demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records from 2008–2013. The World Health Organization Quality Of Life survey was used to measure QOL. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were performed.ResultsThe mean age was 33.3 ± 9.5 and 36.3 ± 10.2 for DR-TB and non-DR-TB respectively. Males formed a majority in both groups (DR-TB 66% and non-DR-TB 82%) and difference was significant (P = .019). Non-Saudis formed the majority in both groups (DR-TB 80% and non-DR-TB 92%) and difference was significant (P = .019). Smoking was higher in DR-TB than non-DR-TB (57% and 38% respectively) and difference was significant (P = .016). Significant differences between DR-TB and non-DR-TB in global QOL, global health, psychological, and environmental domains (P = .000, .029, .001, .005 respectively). Correlations between OOL domains with demographic and clinical variables were significant for DR-TB only. Nationality, age, level of education, working and marital status, diabetes and drug abuse status had significant effect on OOL domains.ConclusionPatients with DR-TB had lower mean scores than non-DR-TB for overall QOL, global health, psychological and environmental domains. Employment status, marital status, older age, level of education, no diabetes mellitus, and no history of drug abuse were important predictors of OOL for TB patients.