QUALITY OF LIFE OF TUBERCULOSIS FEMALE PATIENTS

Abstract

Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment currently revolves around clinical features and microbiology. The disease however adversely affects patients’ psychological, economic, and social well-being as well, and therefore our focus also additionally needs to shift towards quality of life (Quality Of Life). The disease influences all Quality Of Life domains and substantially adds to patient morbidity, and these complex and multidimensional interactions pose challenges in accurately quantifying impairment in Quality Of Life. Both generic and specific Quality Of Life scales show a wide variety of derangements in scores, and results vary across countries and patient groups. In particular, diminished capacity to work, social stigmatization, and psychological issues worsen Quality Of Life in patients with tuberculosis. Although Quality Of Life has been consistently shown to improve during standard anti-tubercular therapy, many patients continue to show residual impairment. It is also not clear if specific situations like presence of comorbid illnesses, drug resistance, or co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus additionally worsen Quality Of Life in these patients. There is a definite need to incorporate Quality Of Life assessment as adjunct outcome measures in tuberculosis control programs. Governments and program managers need to step up socio-cultural reforms and health education, and provide additional incentives to patients, to counter impairment in Quality of Life.¹