EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES OF THE NEWLY DIAGNOSED TUBERCULOSIS CASES IN KAMRUP (M) DISTRICT ASSAM: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is a major cause of ill health and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Objectives: To determine the effects of alcohol and tobacco on treatment outcomes of newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients. Methodology: Hospital based longitudinal study carried out among the newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients treated with anti-tubercular drugs in different Tuberculosis Units of Kamrup (M), Assam. During the initial 3 months of the study period, participants were enrolled. They were then followed up and their treatment outcomes were noted at the end of 6months from the TB register in, only for those patients with complete information. Tuberculosis was found to be more Results: prevalent among the productive age group. Unsuccessful outcome was more among the elderly. Alcohol and smoking found to be signicantly associated (p<0.05). Un-successful outcome was more among alcohol users and tobacco users. As the disease found to be more am Conclusion: ong the productive age group, proper awareness should be done. Also active implementation of cessation activities for the TB patients should be done, where they should also be made to understand about harmful effects of alcohol and tobacco