Quality of life among tuberculosis patients in Lalitpur, Nepal: A cross-sectional study

Objective This study aimed to assess the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among Tuberculosis (TB) patients and investigate the association between HRQoL and its associated factors to inform patient-centred care. Study design Cross-Sectional study. Methods A structured questionnaire was employed to TB patients attending 23 Direct Observation Treatment System (DOTS) centres in the Lalitpur district. HRQoL was measured using the WHOQOL tool, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with poor HRQoL. Results The findings of this study revealed that chronic disease was significantly associated with poor psychological (adjOR = 0.07, 95 % CI: 0.03-0.14) and physical functioning scores (adjOR = 0.45, 95 % CI: 0.23-0.89). Being married enhanced physical functioning (adjOR = 2.12, 95 % CI: 1.19-3.79), while lower education levels negatively affected physical functioning (adjOR = 0.78, 95 % CI: 0.31-0.82). Conclusions Chronic comorbidities, MDR-TB, and socioeconomic disadvantage were key determinants of poor HRQoL among TB patients. Interventions addressing both clinical and sociodemographic factors such as integrated care for chronic disease, psychosocial support, and targeted social assistance may help improve quality of life and reduce disparities among patients with tuberculosis.