Health-related quality of life as a predictor of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Iraq

Objectives: To determine how tuberculosis (TB) treatment affects the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with pulmonary TB and to identify the predictors of favourable TB treatment outcomes in Baghdad, Iraq.

Methods: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Tuberculosis (FACIT-TB), a new TB-specific quality of life instrument derived from the internationally recognized FACIT measurement system for the assessment of HRQL, was administered. The mean total and subscale scores of the FACIT-TB at baseline, end of the intensive phase, and end of TB treatment were compared.

Results: After the 2-month intensive phase, physical well-being, functional well-being, and the overall total scores were significantly increased (p<0.01). Furthermore, at completion of TB treatment, there were significant improvements in the overall HRQL as indicated by the FACIT-TB total score and all subscales, except social and economic well-being and spiritual well-being. In a direct logistic regression model, only the FACIT-TB total score made a statistically significant contribution towards predicting the likelihood that a patient would have a favourable TB treatment outcome.

Conclusions: Therapeutic intervention had a positive impact on patient HRQL. We conclude that FACIT-TB is a reliable tool to monitor HRQL during the course of TB treatment.