Experts: Post TB patients are at more risk of mortality

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Tuberculosis experts have expressed the need for a robust post-TB and lung disease rehabilitation program to reduce the disease burden.

Mudashiru Bbuye, a research fellow from Makerere University Lung Institute, revealed that according to their research over 30 percent of the post TB patients develop illnesses related to lung impairment, cardiovascular diseases, and other problems.

He said that if the post-lung diseases are not worked on, the morbidity amongst the people cured of TB is 30-45 percent and research has also shown that their risk of death is 15 times more compared to the normal mortality rate in the next two years.

According to Bbuye, the risk is higher in rural areas because of the use of cooking biomass smoke and exposure to indoor air pollution. Presentations at the summit revealed that men delay seeking treatment putting them at higher risk of developing post-TB complications.

Martha Nakaye, another researcher, noted that there is a need for more effective triage tests to improve Tuberculosis case detection. She also noted that combining LAM (lipoarabinomannan) antibody testing with urine LAM detection has demonstrated improved sensitivity among people living with HIV.

She however said that this has not been evaluated in the population including people without HIV.

The Ministry of Health with support from the Global Fund is set to roll out post TB and lung disease care to post TB patients in the country. The TB rehabilitation package includes treating symptoms such as cough which may be mistaken for TB.

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