The clinical outcomes of oldest old patients with tuberculosis treated by regimens containing rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics, adverse drug reactions, and outcomes of the oldest old patients (aged ≥80 years) with tuberculosis (TB) treated with rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide (RIP)-containing regimens.

Design: A retrospective chart review study.

Setting: A 1,200-bed tertiary teaching hospital in southwest Taiwan.

Participants: We conducted a retrospective observational study between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011. Seven hundred adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with TB treated with RIP-containing anti-TB regimens were reviewed, including 161 oldest old patients.

Outcome Measures: Clinical outcomes included clinical responsiveness and microbiological eradication. Adverse outcomes included drug-induced hepatitis, and other symptoms included gastrointestinal upset (eg, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or dyspepsia), skin rash, joint pain, and hyperuricemia.

Results: Compared with the non-oldest old adult patients, the oldest old patients more frequently had hepatitis (P=0.014), gastrointestinal upset (P=0.029), and unfavorable outcomes (P<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, hepatitis during treatment (adjusted odds ratio: 3.482, 95% confidence interval: 1.537-7.885; P<0.003) and oldest old age (adjusted odds ratio: 5.161, 95% confidence interval: 2.294-11.613; P<0.010) were independent risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. In the oldest old patients with hepatitis, rifampicin use was more common in the favorable outcome group than in the unfavorable outcome group (100% vs 37.5%; P=0.001).

Conclusion: The oldest old age and hepatitis during RIP treatment were associated with unfavorable outcomes. For the oldest old patients with TB having hepatitis during treatment, rifampicin rechallenge and use might benefit the treatment outcome.