ABSTRACT Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a serious global public health concern associated with social vulnerability. In Brazil, the Unified Health System (SUS, Portuguese) provides free diagnosis and treatment for MDR-TB; however, other expenses may still be incurred for patients and their families which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), can be catastrophic when these costs surpass 20.0% of the annual household income. This study aimed to assess the extent of catastrophic costs related to the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of MDR-TB among patients receiving care at an outpatient clinic in Rio de Janeiro. Methods: This prospective study used convenience sampling from July 2019 to June 2021. Data regarding direct and indirect costs were collected using a standardized questionnaire endorsed by the WHO. To analyze any impoverishment occurred from MDR-TB, a threshold established by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics for 2019 and 2020 of US$ 79,562 and US$ 94,5273, respectively, was applied. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis, including mean; standard deviation; variation coefficient; median; and maximum, minimum, and interquartile ranges. Results: A total of 65 patients were interviewed. Among the participants, 73.8% experienced catastrophic costs, with indirect costs exerting the most significant impact (median: US$ 3,825.9), in contrast to direct costs (median: US$ 542.7). When comparing the periods before and after diagnosis, the prevalence of poverty increased from 12.0% to 28.0%. Conclusions: Despite the support from the SUS in Brazil, diagnostic and therapeutic cascades incur additional costs, exacerbating social vulnerability among patients with MDR-TB. Background Multidrugresistant Multidrug resistant MDRTB MDR TB (MDR-TB Brazil SUS, (SUS Portuguese however which WHO, WHO , (WHO) 200 20 0 20.0 income Janeiro Methods 201 2021 MDRTB, TB, 202 US 79562 79 562 79,56 945273 94 5273 94,5273 respectively applied analysis mean deviation coefficient median maximum minimum ranges Results 6 interviewed participants 738 73 8 73.8 (median 3,825.9, 38259 3,825.9 3 825 9 3,825.9) 542.7. 5427 542.7 . 542 7 542.7) 120 12 12.0 280 28 28.0% Conclusions MDRTB. TB. (WHO 2 20. 7956 56 79,5 94527 527 94,527 73. 3825 3,825. 82 542. 54 1 12. 28.0 795 5 79, 9452 52 94,52 382 3,825 28. 945 94,5 38 3,82 94, 3,8 3,

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a associação de disglicemia e características clínicas, laboratoriais e radiográficas em pacientes com tuberculose pulmonar (TBP), bem como a associação de disglicemia e desfechos do tratamento da tuberculose. Métodos: Estudo longitudinal com 140 pacientes com diagnóstico de TBP (culturas de escarro positivas para Mycobacterium tuberculosis ou resultados positivos do teste Xpert MTB/RIF em amostras de escarro). Os pacientes foram avaliados no momento do diagnóstico (M0), após dois meses de tratamento (M2) e no fim do tratamento (MFIM). Em M0, os pacientes foram divididos em três grupos: normoglicemia+TBP (NGTB); pré-diabetes mellitus+TBP (PDMTB) e diabetes mellitus+TBP (DMTB), de acordo com os níveis de hemoglobina glicada (< 5,7%, 5,7%-6,4% e ≥ 6,5%, respectivamente). Os desfechos do tratamento foram classificados em favoráveis (cura ou conclusão do tratamento) e desfavoráveis (óbito, perda de seguimento ou falência do tratamento). Resultados: Em nossa amostra, 76 pacientes (61,4%) apresentavam disglicemia, 20 (14,3%) dos quais apresentavam DM em M0. Os pacientes com disglicemia, em comparação com os do grupo NGTB, apresentaram mais frequentemente baciloscopia de escarro positiva (94,2% vs. 75,9%; p = 0,003); cavidades (80,2% vs. 63,0%; p = 0,03); lesões bilaterais (67,4% vs. 46,0%; p = 0,02) e maior mediana de terços pulmonares acometidos (3,0 vs. 2,0; p = 0,03) na radiografia de tórax. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos quanto aos desfechos, mas a letalidade da tuberculose foi maior no grupo DMTB do que nos grupos PDMTB e NGTB (20% vs. 2,2%). Conclusões: Pacientes com TBP e disglicemia apresentaram manifestações laboratoriais e radiográficas indicativas de doença mais avançada, e o risco de óbito foi maior no grupo DMTB. Esses achados reforçam a recomendação de detecção precoce de DM em pacientes com tuberculose recém-diagnosticada, a fim de reduzir o risco de óbito durante o tratamento.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association of dysglycemia with clinical, laboratory, and radiographic characteristics of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), as well as with their tuberculosis treatment outcomes. Methods: This was a longitudinal study involving 140 patients diagnosed with PTB (positive cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis or positive Xpert MTB/RIF results from sputum samples). Patients were evaluated at diagnosis (M0), after completing the second month of treatment (M2), and at the end of treatment (MEND). At M0, the patients were classified into three groups: normoglycemia+PTB (NGTB); pre-diabetes mellitus+PTB (PDMTB), and diabetes mellitus+PTB (DMTB), in accordance with glycated hemoglobin levels (< 5.7%, 5.7%-6.4%, and ≥ 6.5%, respectively). Treatment outcomes were classified as favorable (cure or treatment completion) and unfavorable (death, loss to follow-up, or treatment failure). Results: In our sample, 76 patients (61.4%) had dysglycemia, 20 of whom (14.3%) had DM at M0. The patients with dysglycemia, in comparison with those in the NGTB group, more frequently presented with positive sputum smear microscopy (94.2% vs. 75.9%; p = 0.003); cavities (80.2% vs. 63.0%; p = 0.03); bilateral lesions (67.4% vs. 46.0%; p = 0.02); and higher median of affected thirds of the lungs (3.0 vs. 2.0; p = 0.03) on chest radiography. No significant differences regarding outcomes were found among the groups, but tuberculosis lethality was higher in the DMTB group than in the PDMTB and NGTB groups (20% vs. 2.2%). Conclusions: PTB patients with dysglycemia had laboratory and radiographic manifestations indicative of more advanced disease, and the risk of death was higher in the DMTB group. These findings reinforce the recommendation for early screening for DM in patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis in order to reduce the risk of death during treatment.

RESUMO A relevância epidemiológica da tuberculose está diretamente relacionada ao perfil socioeconômico dos países. A vulnerabilidade à tuberculose é influenciada por fatores biológicos, como desnutrição, infecção por HIV ou faixa etária, e fatores sociais, como habitações insalubres, alta densidade demográfica, condições de trabalho inadequadas e inacessibilidade aos serviços de saúde; porém, muitas vezes essas vulnerabilidades se somam. Propomos aqui uma reflexão sobre a tuberculose sob o ponto de vista dos determinantes sociais de saúde e dos custos associados ao seu diagnóstico e tratamento, baseando-nos não somente em dados publicados na literatura internacional, mas também nas evidências já presentes no panorama nacional. Considerando a magnitude da tuberculose como doença socialmente produzida, fica evidente a necessidade de maior envolvimento de profissionais de saúde e da comunidade científica no sentido de implementar medidas operacionais e de investigação relevantes para a compreensão dos condicionantes sociais do processo saúde-doença na tuberculose. A recente crise econômica pela qual passa o Brasil contribuiu para o aumento da mortalidade por todas as causas, incluindo por tuberculose; porém, investimentos em saúde e proteção social reduziram os danos à saúde. Essas evidências reforçam a importância de políticas públicas de proteção social para a redução dos indicadores da tuberculose visando sua eliminação no Brasil.

ABSTRACT The epidemiological relevance of tuberculosis is directly related to the socioeconomic profile of a given country. Vulnerability to tuberculosis is influenced by biological factors (e.g., malnutrition, HIV infection, and age) and social factors (e.g., unhealthy housing, high population density, inappropriate working conditions, and lack of access to health services). In many cases, multiple vulnerabilities occur in conjunction. We propose here a reflection on tuberculosis from the point of view of the social determinants of health, as well as the costs associated with its diagnosis and treatment in Brazil, based not only on data in the international literature but also on evidence related to the national context. Given the magnitude of tuberculosis as a socially mediated disease, there is an evident need for greater involvement of health professionals and of the scientific community to implement relevant operational and research measures to understand the social conditions influencing the health-illness continuum for tuberculosis patients. Although the recent economic crisis in Brazil has contributed to increased mortality from all causes, including tuberculosis, health and social protection expenditures have mitigated detrimental health effects. The evidence presented here underscores the importance of public social protection policies for minimizing the effects of tuberculosis indicators, with the aim of eliminating tuberculosis in Brazil.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between two versions of the scoring system (2011 and 2019), recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in children and adolescents. A retrospective descriptive study was performed to assess the medical records of children and adolescents with PTB, in TB units from Brazilian cities located in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Parana States, from January 1 st , 2004, to December 1 st , 2018. Patients aged 0 to 18 years old with a diagnosis of PTB were included. The comparison between the two scoring systems showed a moderate concordance according to the κ coefficient value = 0.625. Fourteen patients showed a reduction in the TB score, going from 30 points in the 2011, to 25 points or less in the 2019 one. Seventy one percent of these 14 patients had radiological changes suggestive of PTB and 86% had tuberculin skin tests greater than 10 mm. The study concluded that a moderate agreement was observed between the 2011 and 2019 scoring systems, with an increase in the number of patients scoring 25 points or less in 2019, which can eventually hinder the diagnosis of PTB.

Em razão da recomendação da Organização Mundial da Saúde sobre o uso do sistema mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 para o diagnóstico de tuberculose e da falta de evidências sobre o impacto clínico de sua incorporação em sistemas de saúde, um ensaio clínico pragmático está sendo conduzido para avaliar o desempenho clínico e a relação custo-efetividade do MGIT 960 em duas unidades do Sistema Único de Saúde na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, que tem uma elevada incidência de tuberculose. Apresentamos aqui, de forma sintética, o método e resultados preliminares do ensaio. (ISRCTN.org Identifier: ISRCTN79888843 [http://isrctn.org/])

In view of the fact that the World Health Organization has recommended the use of the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 system for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and that there is as yet no evidence regarding the clinical impact of its use in health care systems, we conducted a pragmatic clinical trial to evaluate the clinical performance and cost-effectiveness of the use of MGIT 960 at two health care facilities in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the incidence of tuberculosis is high. Here, we summarize the methodology and preliminary results of the trial. (ISRCTN.org Identifier: ISRCTN79888843 [http://isrctn.org/])

Isoniazid (INH), one of the most important drugs used in antituberculosis (anti-TB) treatment, is also the major drug involved in hepatotoxicity. Differences in INH-induced toxicity have been attributed to genetic variability at several loci, such as NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1 and GSTT1, that code for drug-metabolising enzymes. Our goal was to examine the polymorphisms in these enzymes as susceptibility factors to anti-TB drug-induced hepatitis in Brazilian individuals. In a case-control design, 167 unrelated active tuberculosis patients from the University Hospital of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were enrolled in this study. Patients with a history of anti-TB drug-induced acute hepatitis (cases with an increase to 3 times the upper limit of normal serum transaminases and symptoms of hepatitis) and patients with no evidence of anti-TB hepatic side effects (controls) were genotyped for NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms. Slow acetylators had a higher incidence of hepatitis than intermediate/rapid acetylators [22% (18/82) vs. 9.8% (6/61), odds ratio (OR), 2.86, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-7.68, p = 0.04). Logistic regression showed that slow acetylation status was the only independent risk factor (OR 3.59, 95% CI, 2.53-4.64, p = 0.02) for the occurrence of anti-TB drug-induced hepatitis during anti-TB treatment with INH-containing schemes in Brazilian individuals.