Nationwide Treatment Outcomes of Patients With Multidrug/Rifampin-Resistant Tuberculosis in Korea, 2011-2017: A Retrospective Cohort Study (Korean TB-POST)

Background The treatment outcomes of patients with multidrug/rifampin-resistant (MDR/RR) tuberculosis (TB) are important indicators that reflect the current status of TB management and identify the key challenges encountered by TB control programs in a country. Methods We retrospectively evaluated the treatment outcomes as well as predictors of unfavorable outcomes in patients with MDR/RR-TB notified from 2011 to 2017, using an integrated TB database. Results A total of 7,226 patients with MDR/RR-TB were included. The treatment success rate had significantly increased from 63.9% in 2011 to 75.1% in 2017 ( P P P = 0.513), while the non-TB related death rate had increased from 3.2% in 2011 to 11.1% in 2017 ( P Conclusion The treatment outcomes of patients with MDR/RR-TB has gradually improved but increasing deaths during treatment is an emerging challenge for MDR-TB control in Korea. Targeted and comprehensive care is needed for vulnerable patients such as the elderly, patients with comorbidities, and those with low household incomes.