Factors associated with loss to follow-up in tuberculosis treatment in Brazil: a retrospective cohort study

Objective To analyze the factors associated with loss to follow-up in tuberculosis cases among adults in Brazil in 2020 and 2021. Method Retrospective cohort with secondary data from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System. A total of 24,344 people diagnosed with tuberculosis whose information was complete in the database were included. Adjusted odds ratios and confidence intervals were estimated by binary logistic regression. Results Higher odds of loss to follow-up were observed for males, non-white ethnicity/color, with lower education level, homeless or deprived of liberty, who used drugs, alcohol and/or tobacco, with admission due to recurrence or re-entry after abandonment, and with unknown or positive serology for HIV. On the other hand, older age, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, deprivation of libertyand supervised treatment were associated with lower odds of loss to follow-up. Conclusion Demographic, socioeconomic and clinical-epidemiological factors were associated with the loss to follow-up in tuberculosis cases, which reiterates the various vulnerabilities intertwined with the illness and treatment of this disease. Therefore, there is a need to promote strategies aimed at adherence and linkage to the care for groups most vulnerable to loss to follow-up in tuberculosis treatment in Brazil.