Multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis treatment regimens and patient outcomes: an individual patient data meta-analysis of 9,153 patients

Abstract

Background: Treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is lengthy, toxic, expensive, and has generally poor outcomes. We undertook an individual patient data meta-analysis to assess the impact on outcomes of the type, number, and duration of drugs used to treat MDR-TB.

Methods and findings: Three recent systematic reviews were used to identify studies reporting treatment outcomes of microbiologically confirmed MDR-TB. Study authors were contacted to solicit individual patient data including clinical characteristics, treatment given, and outcomes. Random effects multivariable logistic meta-regression was used to estimate adjusted odds of treatment success. Adequate treatment and outcome data were provided for 9,153 patients with MDR-TB from 32 observational studies. Treatment success, compared to failure/relapse, was associated with use of: later generation quinolones, (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.5 [95% CI 1.1-6.0]), ofloxacin (aOR: 2.5 [1.6-3.9]), ethionamide or prothionamide (aOR: 1.7 [1.3-2.3]), use of four or more likely effective drugs in the initial intensive phase (aOR: 2.3 [1.3-3.9]), and three or more likely effective drugs in the continuation phase (aOR: 2.7 [1.7-4.1]). Similar results were seen for the association of treatment success compared to failure/relapse or death: later generation quinolones, (aOR: 2.7 [1.7-4.3]), ofloxacin (aOR: 2.3 [1.3-3.8]), ethionamide or prothionamide (aOR: 1.7 [1.4-2.1]), use of four or more likely effective drugs in the initial intensive phase (aOR: 2.7 [1.9-3.9]), and three or more likely effective drugs in the continuation phase (aOR: 4.5 [3.4-6.0]).

Conclusions: In this individual patient data meta-analysis of observational data, improved MDR-TB treatment success and survival were associated with use of certain fluoroquinolones, ethionamide, or prothionamide, and greater total number of effective drugs. However, randomized trials are urgently needed to optimize MDR-TB treatment. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Figure 1. Study selection.

Figure 2. Treatment success versus failure and relapse and death.

Crude treatment success versus failure or relapse or death by study with exact 95% CI, as well as number of subjects with success and number of subjects treated. Fixed and der Simonian and Laird random effects pooled estimates are given (purple dots). Two studies that used only first-line TB drugs are indicated by a red square.

Figure 3. Treatment success versus failure and relapse and death.

Fixed and der Simonian and Laird random effects pooled estimates are given (purple dots). Two studies that used only first-line TB drugs are indicated by a red square.

Figure 4. Association of treatment success with duration (adjusted odds and upper bound of CI shown).

(A) Duration of initial intensive phase in all patients (reference group 1.0–2.5 mo). (B) Duration of initial intensive phase—restricted to patients not previously treated with second-line drugs (reference group 1.0–2.5 mo). (C) Total duration of therapy in all patients (reference group is 6.0–12.5 mo). Patients receiving therapy for less than 6 or more than 36 mo excluded from analysis. Note: For duration of 24.6–27.5 mo the upper limit of the CI was 30.2. This is truncated at 21. (D) Total duration of therapy—analysis restricted to patients not previously treated with second-line drugs (reference group is 6.0–12.5 mo. Patients receiving therapy for less than 6 or more than 36 mo excluded from analysis). Note: For duration of 24.6–27.5 mo, the upper limit of the CI was 56.5. This is truncated at 21.