Assessment Of Health Status of Successfully Treated Category I Patients Under RNTCP Program, Five Years After Treatment Completion – A Retrospective Cohort Study from A Coastal District of India

Background: Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem worldwide and also in India. Inspite of RNTCP being a comprehensive programme for effective management and control of tuberculosis, efficacy of DOTS regimen is questioned by private practitioners. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a coastal district of India to assess the health status of successfully treated Category I patients under RNTCP program, five years after treatment completion. An interview was conducted with all the available subjects at their residence using a semi-structured pre-tested interview. Results: Out of 224 registered new sputum positive patients, 177 cases were successfully treated during the recruiting year, accounting for a success rate of 79%. Of the 177 treated patients, 118 were traceable during the study period, out of which 100 subjects had survived after 5 years and were available for the interview. Recurrence of TB was reported in 2 patients during the follow up period. Conclusion: This five years follow up study shows a good long term success rate of TB patient’s treatment. Hence, it reaffirms the scientific basis of RNTCP policy of DOTS regimen to be the right strategy for TB control.