Nutritional Status among Tuberculosis Patients at the End of Initial Phase of Treatment

Background with Objective: Inadequate nutrition is often linked to an increased risk of getting TB and it also plays a role in the worse progression of the disease. Both undernutrition and TB are closely related and significantly affect public health. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status among tuberculosis patients at the end of initial phase of treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 199 adult TB patients taking antitubercular drugs at the end of initial phase in DOTS centres, Dhaka, Bangladesh from 1st January to 31st December, 2023. Data were collected following a convenient sampling technique through face-to-face interviews and record review using a semi-structured questionnaire and check list. Nutritional status was measured by body mass index. Ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional review board of National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM). Statistical analyses of the results were obtained by using window based computer software devised with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS-20.1). Results: More than half (56.3%) of undernutrition among TB patients was at the registration and newly two third patients (64.8%) of undernutrition was at the end of initial phase of treatment. Male and PTB patients were found significantly more undernourished. The median BMI difference between registration and end of initial phase was found significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study revealed high proportion of undernutrition patients after initial phase which worsened from the onset of initial phase.