Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32353043›Full record

ArticlePloS one2020

Treatment outcomes of multi drug resistant and rifampicin resistant Tuberculosis in Zimbabwe: A cohort analysis of patients initiated on treatment during 2010 to 2015.

Ronnie Matambo, Kudakwashe C Takarinda, Pruthu Thekkur, Charles Sandy, Sungano Mharakurwa, Talent Makoni, Ronald Ncube, Kelvin Charambira, Christopher Zishiri, Mkhokheli Ngwenya and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Hearing-Functioning Problems Across High-Burden Adult Health Conditions in Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Ronnie MatamboInternational Union against Tuberculosis & Lung Disease, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0002-1046-9537
Kudakwashe C TakarindaCentre for Operational Research, International Union against Tuberculosis & Lung Disease, Paris, France.
Pruthu ThekkurCentre for Operational Research, International Union against Tuberculosis & Lung Disease, Paris, France.
Charles SandyAIDS and TB Department, Ministry of Health & Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Sungano MharakurwaCollege of Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Talent MakoniAIDS and TB Department, Ministry of Health & Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Ronald NcubeInternational Union against Tuberculosis & Lung Disease, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0003-4668-0868
Kelvin CharambiraInternational Union against Tuberculosis & Lung Disease, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Christopher ZishiriInternational Union against Tuberculosis & Lung Disease, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Mkhokheli NgwenyaWorld Health Organisation, Zimbabwe Country Office, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Saziso NyathiHealth Services Department, City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Albert ChitekaCollege of Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Elliot ChikakaCollege of Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Shungu Mutero-MunyatiBiomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundZimbabwe is one of the thirty countries globally with a high burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB). Since 2010, patients diagnosed with MDR/RR-TB are being treated with 20-24 months of standardized second-line drugs (SLDs). The profile, management and factors associated with unfavourable treatment outcomes of MDR/RR TB have not been systematically evaluated in Zimbabwe.

objectiveTo assess treatment outcomes and factors associated with unfavourable outcomes among MDR/RR-TB patients registered and treated under the National Tuberculosis Programme in all the district hospitals and urban healthcare facilities in Zimbabwe between January 2010 and December 2015.

methodsA cohort study using routinely collected programme data. The 'death', 'loss to follow-up' (LTFU), 'failure' and 'not evaluated' were considered as "unfavourable outcome". A generalized linear model with a log-link and binomial distribution or a Poisson distribution with robust error variances were used to assess factors associated with "unfavourable outcome". The unadjusted and adjusted relative risks were calculated as a measure of association. A 𝑝value< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

resultsOf the 473 patients in the study, the median age was 34 years [interquartile range, 29-42] and 230 (49%) were males. There were 352 (74%) patients co-infected with HIV, of whom 321 (91%) were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Severe adverse events (SAEs) were recorded in 118 (25%) patients; mostly hearing impairments (70%) and psychosis (11%). Overall, 184 (39%) patients had 'unfavourable' treatment outcomes [125 (26%) were deaths, 39 (8%) were lost to follow-up, 4 (<1%) were failures and 16 (3%) not evaluated]. Being co-infected with HIV but not on ART [adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.33-5.09] was independently associated with unfavourable treatment outcomes.

conclusionThe high unfavourable treatment outcomes among MDR/RR-TB patients on standardized SLDs were coupled with a high occurrence of SAEs in this predominantly HIV co-infected cohort. Switching to individualized all oral shorter treatment regimens should be considered to limit SAEs and improve treatment outcomes. Improving the ART uptake and timeliness of ART initiation can reduce unfavourable outcomes.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRifampinTreatment OutcomeTuberculosis, Multidrug-ResistantYoung AdultZimbabweRifampin

Identifiers

PMID32353043
PMCPMC7192497

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.