Tuberculosis deaths in Northern Portugal. Predictors of mortality during TB treatment – A five-year analysis (2008–2012)

The burden of tuberculosis in the Northern Region of Portugal remains high despite the implementation of risk group oriented strategies. Therefore characterization of the factors that relate to mortality among tuberculosis patients in this geographical region is relevant and explains the purpose of this study.Records in the national surveillance system for tuberculosis characteristics for patients living in the North of Portugal and who completed tuberculosis treatment between 2008 and 2012 were studied by means of a retrospective case–control study design. Simple and multiple regressions were performed in order to assess the relationship between patient demographic, clinical and social history data with patient survival.Male individuals over 45 years old with prior cancer (OR 4.63, 90% CI 2.66–8.04) and disseminated tuberculosis (OR 1.96, 90% CI 0.48–0.99) were identified as being those with the highest risk of death throughout tuberculosis treatment.