Factors associated with delay in treatment initiation for pulmonary tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT: Delays in treatment initiation for tuberculosis (TB) may lead to worse clinical outcomes and increased transmission. We aimed to determine factors associated with treatment delays, to guide public health action. We extracted data on clinical characteristics and documented potential barriers to treatment from all pulmonary TB cases with clinical case review data from 2011 to 2015 and linked these to TB surveillance data. We described the distribution of delays from symptom onset to first presentation ("presentation delay") and from presentation to treatment ("healthcare delay"). We calculated time ratios (TRs) to determine the association between sociodemographic and clinical factors and delay outcomes. Median presentation delay was 30 days (interquartile range (IQR) 11-72 days). Language b

SUBMITTER: Roberts DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7073422 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature