Radiological and Pharmacovigilance Comparisons Between Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis and Drug Sensitive Tuberculosis Patients at Mardan Medical

Abstract

Objective: To compare radiological features and pharmacovigilance profile between drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) and drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB) patients.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative cross-sectional study.

Place of Study: Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT) Center, Mardan Medical College, Mardan & Duration of Study: 1st February 2022 to 1st February 2025.

Patients and Methods: Medical records of 200 tuberculosis patients (100 DR-TB and 100 DS-TB) were reviewed using a structured proforma. Some of the data collected consisted of demographic information, radiological data (which included extent of disease, infiltrates, consolidation, cavitary lesions, bronchiectasis, fibrosis, and non-parenchymal changes), and pharmacovigilance data (which included type, frequency, severity, causality, and outcomes of the adverse drug reactions). SPSS version 26 was used for the analysis of data. The significance was assessed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, with p ≤ 0.05 being considered significant.

Results: DR-TB patients had a significantly greater extent of pulmonary involvement, more cavitary lesions, consolidation, bronchiectasis, and destructive pulmonary changes than DS-TB patients (p<0.05). The proportion of DR-TB patients with ADRs was much higher than in DS-TB patients (p<0.001).

Conclusions: DR-TB patients have more severe radiological disease and have a higher burden of adverse drug reactions when compared to DS-TB patients. It is important that radiology is recognized early and pharmacovigilance is reinforced to achieve better treatment results.