Health-related quality of life and its association with medication adherence in active pulmonary tuberculosis– a systematic review of global literature with focus on South Africa (original) (raw)
Abstract
Introduction
Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. Clinical parameters are important objective outcomes in TB; however they often are not directly correlated with subjective well-being of the patient, but can be assessed using patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a specific PRO generally multi-dimensional in nature and includes physical, mental and social health domains. The inclusion of HRQOL PROs in trials and clinical practice can provide additional information beyondclinical and microbiological parameters. Furthermore, HRQOL may be associated with medication adherence. This review focuses on patient-reported HRQOL and its association with medication adherence in TB patients in South Africa.
Methods
A comprehensive search strategy was developed focusing on the impact of TB on patient-reported HRQOL,the existence of a conceptual framework of TB-specific HRQOL, determinants of medication adherence and the association of HRQOL with medication adherence. Data were extracted from all identified articles and additionaldata extraction was performed by two independent reviewers with special focus on longitudinal studies in order to understand changes of HRQOL and adherence over time. Research gaps were identified with regard to patient-reported HRQOL and medication adherence.
Results
A total of 66 articles met the eligibility criteria. Ten HRQOL studies and one adherence study used a longitudinal design, none of these in South Africa. A variety of different generic and disease-specific HRQOL measures were identified in the articles. In South Africa four HRQOL and five adherence studies (non-longitudinal) were published. Similar factors (socio-demographic, socio-economic, disease-related, therapy-related and psycho-social aspects) affect HRQOL and adherence. Although standard TB treatment improved all health domains, psychological well-being and social functioning remained impaired in microbiologically cured patients after treatment.
Conclusion
While evidence of TB impact on HRQOL and medication adherence and their association exists, it is verylimited for the South African situation. No valid and reliable TB-specific HRQOL measures were identified in this systematicreview. An assessment of HRQOL in TB patients in South Africa is required as this may assist with improving current disease management programmes, medication adherence and national treatment guidelines.
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Background
The global burden of tuberculosis (TB) is still a major public health concern although the United Nation’s Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) target to reverse TB incidence by 2015 has been achieved. Around 9.6 million new TB cases and 1.5 million TB deaths were estimated to occur in 2014 worldwide [[1](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR1 "World Health Organization (WHO). Global Tuberculosis Report 2015. 2015. http://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/en/
. Accessed 02 December 2015.")\]. Twenty-two high-burden countries defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) account for 80 % of all TB cases. Despite the availability and affordability of effective TB medication South Africa has the highest prevalence and incidence rates (696 and 834 cases per 100,000 population) among these countries \[[1](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR1 "World Health Organization (WHO). Global Tuberculosis Report 2015. 2015.
http://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/en/
. Accessed 02 December 2015.")\] TB is South Africa’s leading cause of mortality (134 cases per 100,000 population). TB is known to impact health-related quality of life (HRQOL) \[[2](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR2 "Bauer M, Leavens A, Schwartzman K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of tuberculosis on health-related quality of life. Qual Life ResInt J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):2213–35. doi:
10.1007/s11136-012-0329-x
.")–[4](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR4 "Guo N, Marra F, Marra CA. Measuring health-related quality of life in tuberculosis: a systematic review. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:14.doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-7-14
.")\]. Effective treatment, relapse and the emergence of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) are closely related to TB treatment adherence and consequent HRQOL \[[5](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR5 "Munro S, Lewin S, Smith H, Engel M, Freiheim A, Volmink J. Patient adherence to tuberculosis treatment: a systematic review of qualitative research. PLoS Med. 2007;4(7):1230–45. doi:
10.1371/journal.pmed10.1371/journal.pmed.0040238.g001
.")\]. The assessment of an association between both, HRQOL and medication adherence in TB, would provide valuable information on treatment effectiveness, optimal disease management and health policy making.Patient-reported outcomes (PRO’s) provide unique evidence of different aspects of the experience of living with a disease or condition and how important these aspects are to patients. In this sense, they go beyond clinical parameters and respect the integrated nature of health, ideally encompassing physical, mental and social well-being. The measurement of HRQOL using PRO’s allows for a multidimensional understanding of health, an evaluation of disease and treatment impact on the health condition and the patients’ daily life. It is strongly related to the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” [[6](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR6 "World Health Organization (WHO). 1948. http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html
. Accessed 18 Feb 2014.")\]. A comprehensive knowledge of HRQOL in TB patients can allow for identification of treatment gaps. Addressing these gaps will lead to improvement of health care services and disease prevention strategies, and support health policy making. A number of countries such as the UK, Germany and Australia rely on PRO data about medical interventions for pricing, reimbursement and health policy decision-making about medical interventions. South Africa is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of such outcome evaluations and has released its first guidance on pharmacoeconomic submissions in February 2013 \[[7](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR7 "Department of Health Republic of South Africa. Guidelines for Pharmacoeconomic Submissions 2012. Government Gazette 2013; No. 36118.
http://www.ispor.org/peguidelines/source/PEGazette_February2013_SouthAfrica.pdf
. Accessed 06 Feb 2014.")\]. The aim of this systematic review was to understand HRQOL and medication adherence during TB treatment and how both concepts are associated based on international literature. Longitudinal studies were of particular interest to understand changes in HRQOL and adherence during the course of TB treatment. The focus of this research lies on active pulmonary TB and not on latent TB (LTBI), MDR-TB, XDR-TB, TB in children or TB with HIV co-infection, as these types of TB show different HRQOL outcomes \[[8](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR8 "Brown J, Capocci S, Smith C, Morris S, Abubakar I, Lipman M. Health status and quality of life in tuberculosis. Int J Infect Dis. 2015;32:68–75. doi:
10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.045
.")\]. As South Africa suffers from a major TB burden, we put a specific focus on HRQOL and adherence to TB treatment in the South African health setting.Review
Methods
Search strategy for identification and selection of relevant studies
A systematic literature search has been performed in PubMed, EMBASE and PsychINFO, with the last search conducted on 22 February 2015. Search terms applied included tuberculosis, health related quality of life, HRQOL, quality of life, South Africa, patient-reported outcomes, outcome assessment, life quality, well-being, adherence, non-adherence and compliance; different combinations were used (Table 1 in the Additional file 1). Each search term combination resulted in different initial hits which were screened by title and abstract. Articles were excluded if they were not related to the pre-defined search terms or were published in a language other than English. Duplicates were removed. The full texts of all remaining articles were reviewed. References cited by the identified publications were additionally scanned for relevant studies. Data on TB and adherence was additionally taken from the WHO and the Department of Health of the Republic of South Africa. Data from articles with a longitudinal study design were separately extracted and included when psychometric validity and reliability were reported for HRQOL or adherence measures, when changes in HRQOL during TB treatment including at least baseline and end of treatment were reported, and when the study population consisted of new TB cases treated as outpatients.
Data quality and data extraction
Data from all identified articles was extracted and structured according to physical, mental and social health aspects of HRQOL; data on medication adherence was summarized. Research on HRQOL and medication adherence in South Africa was described separately. In addition, studies with a longitudinal design were subject to a separate; subsequent data extraction performed by two independent reviewers. This additional extraction covered the PICOS elements (P = population, I = intervention, C = comparator or control, O = outcome, S = study design), with additional items covering major research topic, study objective, study setting, sample size, PRO measure applied and measurement time points. Prior to data extraction, all longitudinal studies underwent quality assessment. As longitudinal studies were observational in nature, quality of reporting was evaluated using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement [[2](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR2 "Bauer M, Leavens A, Schwartzman K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of tuberculosis on health-related quality of life. Qual Life ResInt J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):2213–35. doi: 10.1007/s11136-012-0329-x
.")\]. A STROBE quality checklist with 8 items was applied, with scores ranging from 0 (no quality) to 16 (best quality) \[[2](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR2 "Bauer M, Leavens A, Schwartzman K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of tuberculosis on health-related quality of life. Qual Life ResInt J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):2213–35. doi:
10.1007/s11136-012-0329-x
.")\].Results
Our literature search in PubMed, EMBASE and PsychINFO yielded 988 initial hits. After screening by title and abstract and after removal of duplicates, 61 articles remained. An addition of three WHO reports, two guidelines from the South Africa’s Department of Health and one article identified by hand search of citations resulted in 67 eligible articles for this systematic review. One article was excluded, yielding 66 eligible full-text articles (Fig. 1). A detailed description of the literature search is available in the Additional file 1: Figure 1-4. The 66 articles comprised 22 cross-sectional studies, 17 longitudinal studies, 7 (systematic) reviews, 8 qualitative studies and 12 articles including editorials, comments and letters (Table 2 in the Additional file 1). Nine studies were performed in South Africa (four HRQOL and five medication adherence studies; Table 4 in the Additional file 1). All final 66 articles underwent extraction of information about HRQOL and adherence in TB. The 17 identified longitudinal studies were potentially eligible for separate data extraction; 11 of them actually met the eligibility criteria for separate data extraction, while 6 studies were excluded as eligibility criteria were not met (Table 3 in the Additional file 1). Application of the STROBE quality of reporting checklist to the 11 longitudinal studies resulted in a median score of 7 for HRQOL studies, with scores ranging from 5 to 11 out of 16 (the greater the score the higher the quality of reporting). The adherence study had a score of 10 (Table 3 in the Additional file 1).
Fig. 1
The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.
Flow diagram of literature search in the databases PubMed, EMBASE and PsychINFO; additional articles were obtained from World Health Organization and Department of Health Republic of South Africa
TB impact on HRQOL
The systematic review found that TB has a negative impact on patients’ HRQOL and overall wellbeing [3, [9](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR9 "Masumoto S, Yamamoto T, Ohkado A, Yoshimatsu S, Querri AG, Kamiya Y. Factors associated with health-related quality of life among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Manila, the Philippines. Qual Life Res Int J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2014;23(5):1523–33. doi: 10.1007/s11136-013-0571-x
.")–[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\]. Factors associated with HRQOL in TB included socio-demographic (age, gender) and socio-economic (income, education, housing, social security) factors, disease-related (symptoms) and therapy-related (side effects, adverse events) factors and psycho-social aspects (isolation and stigmatization, psycho-social burden) \[[2](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR2 "Bauer M, Leavens A, Schwartzman K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of tuberculosis on health-related quality of life. Qual Life ResInt J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):2213–35. doi:
10.1007/s11136-012-0329-x
."), [4](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR4 "Guo N, Marra F, Marra CA. Measuring health-related quality of life in tuberculosis: a systematic review. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:14.doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-7-14
."), [9](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR9 "Masumoto S, Yamamoto T, Ohkado A, Yoshimatsu S, Querri AG, Kamiya Y. Factors associated with health-related quality of life among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Manila, the Philippines. Qual Life Res Int J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2014;23(5):1523–33. doi:
10.1007/s11136-013-0571-x
."), [10](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR10 "Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Janmeja AK, Jindal SK. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under programme conditions. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(7):947–53. doi:
10.5588/ijtld.12.0299
."), [13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")–[30](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR30 "Marra CA, Marra F, Cox VC, Palepu A, Fitzgerald JM. Factors influencing quality of life in patients with active tuberculosis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2004;2:58. doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-2-58
.")\]. There was some evidence to suggest that amongst TB patients, psycho-social burden may have a greater impact than clinical symptoms \[[3](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR3 "Chang B, Wu AW, Hansel NN, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: A review of the English literature. Qual Life Res. 2004;13:1633–42."), [13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\]. The results of this literature review identified that TB treatment resulted in a significant improvement in HRQOL, especially in physical and psychological dimensions \[[2](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR2 "Bauer M, Leavens A, Schwartzman K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of tuberculosis on health-related quality of life. Qual Life ResInt J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):2213–35. doi:
10.1007/s11136-012-0329-x
."), [4](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR4 "Guo N, Marra F, Marra CA. Measuring health-related quality of life in tuberculosis: a systematic review. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:14.doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-7-14
."), [10](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR10 "Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Janmeja AK, Jindal SK. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under programme conditions. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(7):947–53. doi:
10.5588/ijtld.12.0299
."), [17](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR17 "Ralph AP, Kenangalem E, Waramori G, Pontororing GJ, Sandjaja, Tjitra E, et al. High morbidity during treatment and residual pulmonary disability in pulmonary tuberculosis: under-recognised phenomena. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e80302. doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0080302
.")–[19](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR19 "Balgude A, Sontakke S. Study of impact of antitubercular therapy on quality of life. Indian J Med Sci. 2012;66(3–4):71–7. doi:
10.4103/0019-5359.110911
."), [22](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR22 "Louw J, Peltzer K, Naidoo P, Matseke G, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Quality of life among tuberculosis (TB), TB retreatment and/or TB-HIV co-infected primary public health care patients in three districts in South Africa. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2012;10:77. doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-10-77
."), [23](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR23 "Othman Q. Health related quality of life of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in Yemen. Afr J Pharm Pharmacol. 2011;5(4):547–53. doi:
10.5897/ajpp11.078
."), [27](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR27 "Guo N, Marra C, Marra F, Moadebi S, Elwood RK, FitzGerald JM. Health state utilities in latent and active tuberculosis. Value Health. 2008;11(7):1154–61."), [29](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR29 "Chamla D. The assessment of patients’ health-related quality of life during tuberculosis treatment in Wuhan, China. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2004;8(9):1100–6.")\]. The improvement in HRQOL was greatest during the first 2–3 months (intensive treatment phase) \[[2](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR2 "Bauer M, Leavens A, Schwartzman K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of tuberculosis on health-related quality of life. Qual Life ResInt J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):2213–35. doi:
10.1007/s11136-012-0329-x
."), [23](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR23 "Othman Q. Health related quality of life of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in Yemen. Afr J Pharm Pharmacol. 2011;5(4):547–53. doi:
10.5897/ajpp11.078
.")\]. The results also revealed that although a patient was defined as microbiologically cured following successful treatment, morbidity still existed due to anatomic and functional changes of the lung at treatment completion \[[17](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR17 "Ralph AP, Kenangalem E, Waramori G, Pontororing GJ, Sandjaja, Tjitra E, et al. High morbidity during treatment and residual pulmonary disability in pulmonary tuberculosis: under-recognised phenomena. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e80302. doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0080302
."), [31](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR31 "Pasipanodya JG, Miller TL, Vecino M, Munguia G, Garmon R, Bae S, et al. Pulmonary impairment after tuberculosis. Chest. 2007;131(6):1817–24. doi:
10.1378/chest.06-2949
.")–[33](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR33 "Muniyandi M, Rajeswari R, Balasubramanian R, Nirupa C, Gopi PG, Jaggarajamma K, et al. Evaluation of post-treatment health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among tuberculosis patients. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2007;11(8):887–92.")\]. Specifically, a state of chronic morbidity continued which resulted in health quality loss that differed for developing countries with regard to their socio-demographic and -economic situation \[[34](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR34 "Diel R, Lampenius N. Cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions for tuberculosis control: DALYs versus QALYs. Pharmacoeconomics. 2014;32(7):617–26. doi:
10.1007/s40273-014-0159-5
.")–[36](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR36 "Pasipanodya JG, Miller TL, Vecino M, Munguia G, Bae S, Drewyer G, et al. Using the St. George respiratory questionnaire to ascertain health quality in persons with treated pulmonary tuberculosis. Chest. 2007;132(5):1591–8. doi:
10.1378/chest.07-0755
.")\]. It was also noted that the assessment of HRQOL has currently not been integrated into the WHO guidelines for TB treatment, national guidelines or TB control programmes \[[37](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR37 "Atif M, Sulaiman SA, Shafie AA, Ali I, Hassali MA, Saleem F. WHO guidelines for treatment of tuberculosis: the missing links. Int J Clin Pharm. 2012;34(4):506–9. doi:
10.1007/s11096-012-9657-8
.")\]. An important consideration from the results of the review was that patient-reported HRQOL outcomes may differ after the end of treatment depending on the HRQOL measures applied as different measures may measure different concepts \[[4](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR4 "Guo N, Marra F, Marra CA. Measuring health-related quality of life in tuberculosis: a systematic review. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:14.doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-7-14
."), [10](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR10 "Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Janmeja AK, Jindal SK. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under programme conditions. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(7):947–53. doi:
10.5588/ijtld.12.0299
."), [19](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR19 "Balgude A, Sontakke S. Study of impact of antitubercular therapy on quality of life. Indian J Med Sci. 2012;66(3–4):71–7. doi:
10.4103/0019-5359.110911
."), [38](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR38 "Chung W, Li C. Can DOTS improve quality of life among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis? Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(3):425–6. doi:
10.5588/ijtld.12.0856
.")–[40](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR40 "Dion MJ, Tousignant P, Bourbeau J, Menzies D, Schwartzman K. Feasibility and reliability of health-related quality of life measurements among tuberculosis patients. Qual Life Res Int J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2004;13(3):653–65.")\].TB impact on physical health
TB impacts physical health, resulting in impaired physical functioning, development of fatigue, adverse events of treatment and increased use of health care services. Major physical impairment was reported through somatic symptoms and other TB related physiological outcomes [3, [4](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR4 "Guo N, Marra F, Marra CA. Measuring health-related quality of life in tuberculosis: a systematic review. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:14.doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-7-14
."), [13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52."), [18](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR18 "Awaisu A, Haniki Nik Mohamed M, Noordin NM, Muttalif AR, Aziz NA, Syed Sulaiman SA, et al. Impact of connecting tuberculosis directly observed therapy short-course with smoking cessation on health-related quality of life. Tob Induc Dis. 2012;10:2. doi:
10.1186/1617-9625-10-2
.")\]. The impairment in HRQOL was worse in patients with HIV co-infection \[[15](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR15 "Deribew A, Deribe K, Reda AA, Tesfaye M, Hailmichael Y, Maja T, et al. Change in quality of life: a follow up study among patients with HIV infection with and without TB in Ethiopia. BMC Public Health. 2013;13(408):1–6.")\]. Impaired physical functioning was closely related to the development of fatigue \[[3](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR3 "Chang B, Wu AW, Hansel NN, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: A review of the English literature. Qual Life Res. 2004;13:1633–42."), [13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\]. The literature revealed that fatigue was triggered through sleep disturbances, coughing and malnutrition and TB medication \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\]. Drug-based treatment of TB impacted HRQOL in two ways. Whilst the TB treatment resulted in a significant improvement in HRQOL \[[2](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR2 "Bauer M, Leavens A, Schwartzman K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of tuberculosis on health-related quality of life. Qual Life ResInt J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):2213–35. doi:
10.1007/s11136-012-0329-x
."), [4](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR4 "Guo N, Marra F, Marra CA. Measuring health-related quality of life in tuberculosis: a systematic review. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:14.doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-7-14
."), [10](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR10 "Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Janmeja AK, Jindal SK. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under programme conditions. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(7):947–53. doi:
10.5588/ijtld.12.0299
."), [17](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR17 "Ralph AP, Kenangalem E, Waramori G, Pontororing GJ, Sandjaja, Tjitra E, et al. High morbidity during treatment and residual pulmonary disability in pulmonary tuberculosis: under-recognised phenomena. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e80302. doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0080302
.")–[19](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR19 "Balgude A, Sontakke S. Study of impact of antitubercular therapy on quality of life. Indian J Med Sci. 2012;66(3–4):71–7. doi:
10.4103/0019-5359.110911
."), [22](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR22 "Louw J, Peltzer K, Naidoo P, Matseke G, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Quality of life among tuberculosis (TB), TB retreatment and/or TB-HIV co-infected primary public health care patients in three districts in South Africa. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2012;10:77. doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-10-77
."), [29](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR29 "Chamla D. The assessment of patients’ health-related quality of life during tuberculosis treatment in Wuhan, China. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2004;8(9):1100–6.")\], the drugs taken often resulted in adverse drug reactions which negatively affected HRQOL \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\]. The greatest physical impact on HRQOL was caused by the large quantity of pills and the treatment duration, and a reduction in both was expected to improve HRQOL \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\]. Health care services may have a negative effect on HRQOL through the relationship between healthcare worker and patient, especially due to a lack of knowledge and misunderstanding about TB. This relationship was not only important for the degree of compliance with the current TB treatment guidelines, but also comprised emotional support and disease-related information through nurses \[[16](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR16 "Dias AA, de Oliveira DM, Turato ER, de Figueiredo RM. Life experiences of patients who have completed tuberculosis treatment: a qualitative investigation in southeast Brazil. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:595. doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-13-595
."), [41](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR41 "Atif M, Sulaiman SAS, Shafie AA, Muttalif AR, Hassali MA, Saleem F. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Co-Morbid Tuberculosis Relapse Patient: A Case Report from Malaysia. Trop J Pharm Res. 2012;11(4). doi:
10.4314/tjpr.v11i4.17
.")\].TB impact on mental health
The impact of TB on mental health related to psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing and patients perceptionof their health. Psychological distress was commonly reported among TB patients [42, [43](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR43 "Naidoo P, Mwaba K. Helplessness, depression, and social support among people being treated for tuberculosis in South Africa. Soc Behav Personal Int J. 2010;38(10):1323–33. doi: 10.2224/sbp.2010.38.10.1323
.")\], with depression and anxiety being the most frequently reported mental disorders \[[42](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR42 "Peltzer KNP, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors in tuberculosis patients in public primary care clinics in South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12(89):1–10."), [44](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR44 "Aamir S, Aisha. Co-Morbid Anxiety and Depression Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2010;20(10):703–4.")\], especially in TB patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) \[[45](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR45 "Peltzer K, Naidoo P, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms and associated factors in tuberculosis (TB), TB retreatment and/or TB–HIV co-infected primary public health-care patients in three districts in South Africa. Psychol Health Med. 2013;18(4):387–97. doi:
10.1080/13548506.2012.726364
.")\]. Besides depression and anxiety, feelings of anger were also reported \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\]. Psychiatric co-morbidity may increase the distress of physical illness, prolong recovery time and may also lead to poor treatment compliance \[[43](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR43 "Naidoo P, Mwaba K. Helplessness, depression, and social support among people being treated for tuberculosis in South Africa. Soc Behav Personal Int J. 2010;38(10):1323–33. doi:
10.2224/sbp.2010.38.10.1323
.")\]. Psychological distress may be caused by social stigmatization followed by social isolation during TB treatment and impacted financial situation \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52."), [42](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR42 "Peltzer KNP, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors in tuberculosis patients in public primary care clinics in South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12(89):1–10."), [46](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR46 "Issa BA, Yusuf AD, Kuranga SI. Depression comorbidity among patients with tuberculosis in a university teaching hospital outpatient clinic in Nigeria. Ment Health Fam Med. 2009;6(3):133–8.")\]. Mental disorder in TB patients was associated with socio-demographic and economic factors and in HIV co-infected TB patients also with stigmatization and perceived health status \[[15](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR15 "Deribew A, Deribe K, Reda AA, Tesfaye M, Hailmichael Y, Maja T, et al. Change in quality of life: a follow up study among patients with HIV infection with and without TB in Ethiopia. BMC Public Health. 2013;13(408):1–6."), [42](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR42 "Peltzer KNP, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors in tuberculosis patients in public primary care clinics in South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12(89):1–10.")\]; a misconception about TB including fear of dying, disease transmission, disease symptoms and treatment leads to lower cure and survival rates as the patient may act according to this misconception \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52."), [16](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR16 "Dias AA, de Oliveira DM, Turato ER, de Figueiredo RM. Life experiences of patients who have completed tuberculosis treatment: a qualitative investigation in southeast Brazil. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:595. doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-13-595
.")\]. Prevalence rates of depression and mental disorders among TB patients in low income countries ranged between 46 and 80 % \[[42](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR42 "Peltzer KNP, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors in tuberculosis patients in public primary care clinics in South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12(89):1–10."), [44](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR44 "Aamir S, Aisha. Co-Morbid Anxiety and Depression Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2010;20(10):703–4.")\]. About 20 % of non-adherent TB patients in Pakistan reported depression and anxiety after treatment completion and developed a multi-drug resistance \[[44](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR44 "Aamir S, Aisha. Co-Morbid Anxiety and Depression Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2010;20(10):703–4.")\]. TB can also have an impact on caregivers. In Malaysia caregivers reported poor mental health and an increased risk of depression \[[47](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR47 "Atif M, Sulaiman SA, Shafie AA, Asif M, Ahmad N. SF-36v2 norms and its’ discriminative properties among healthy households of tuberculosis patients in Malaysia. Qual Life Res Int J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):1955–64. doi:
10.1007/s11136-012-0337-x
.")\]. TB may affect spiritual wellbeing. Patients in the USA experienced TB as a wake-up call which changed their lifestyle in a positive way. These patients stopped drinking alcohol, adopted a healthier lifestyle and became more concerned about their health \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\].TB impact on social health
Diagnosis and treatment of TB can have an impact on social health including reduced social functioning and an increased financial burden as a result of stigmatization [13]. Social functioning often comprises roles at the workplace, in the community and within the family [3, 13]. The infectious nature of TB can lead to a stigma and disruption of social interaction with others, resulting in social isolation [[26](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR26 "Dhuria M, Sharma N, Narender Pal S, Ram Chander J, Saha R, Gopal KI. A study of the impact of tuberculosis on the quality of life and the effect after treatment with DOTS. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2009;21(3):312–20. doi: 10.1177/1010539509336242
.")\]. TB-related stigmatization was often associated with stigma of HIV and AIDS \[[43](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR43 "Naidoo P, Mwaba K. Helplessness, depression, and social support among people being treated for tuberculosis in South Africa. Soc Behav Personal Int J. 2010;38(10):1323–33. doi:
10.2224/sbp.2010.38.10.1323
."), [48](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR48 "Van Rie A, Sengupta S, Pungrassami P, Balthip Q, Choonuan S, Kasetjaroen Y, et al. Measuring stigma associated with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in southern Thailand: exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of two new scales. Tropical Meda Int Health. 2008;13(1):21–30. doi:
10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01971.x
.")\]. Many TB patients were unable to work due to the travel distance between a health clinic they get the treatment from and workplace, but also due to the disease induced worsening of their physical condition \[[3](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR3 "Chang B, Wu AW, Hansel NN, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: A review of the English literature. Qual Life Res. 2004;13:1633–42."), [13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52."), [16](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR16 "Dias AA, de Oliveira DM, Turato ER, de Figueiredo RM. Life experiences of patients who have completed tuberculosis treatment: a qualitative investigation in southeast Brazil. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:595. doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-13-595
.")\]. This may affect the financial and economic situation of TB patients in terms of limited work capacity or inability to work which could lead to a decrease in income or even a total loss of income \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52."), [16](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR16 "Dias AA, de Oliveira DM, Turato ER, de Figueiredo RM. Life experiences of patients who have completed tuberculosis treatment: a qualitative investigation in southeast Brazil. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:595. doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-13-595
.")\]. Saving travel expenses to reduce the financial burden maylead to medication non-adherence \[[3](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR3 "Chang B, Wu AW, Hansel NN, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: A review of the English literature. Qual Life Res. 2004;13:1633–42.")\]. Some studies indicated that a better financial empowerment could improve TB-related depression, medication adherence and HRQOL \[[42](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR42 "Peltzer KNP, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors in tuberculosis patients in public primary care clinics in South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12(89):1–10."), [46](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR46 "Issa BA, Yusuf AD, Kuranga SI. Depression comorbidity among patients with tuberculosis in a university teaching hospital outpatient clinic in Nigeria. Ment Health Fam Med. 2009;6(3):133–8.")\]. Often family members needed to get involved as caregivers leading to a loss of income by either through reducing their own work \[[3](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR3 "Chang B, Wu AW, Hansel NN, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: A review of the English literature. Qual Life Res. 2004;13:1633–42.")\] or by providing financial support to the patients \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\]. TB induced fatigue may impair the sexual function of the patient \[[13](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR13 "Hansel NN, Wu AW, Chang B, Diette GB. Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives. Qual Life Res. 2004;13(3):639–52.")\].South African studies on HRQOL in TB
In this review four studies which evaluated HRQOL in TB patients in South Africa were identified. All of them applied a cross-sectional design and had a strong focus on psychological distress and mental health [[22](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR22 "Louw J, Peltzer K, Naidoo P, Matseke G, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Quality of life among tuberculosis (TB), TB retreatment and/or TB-HIV co-infected primary public health care patients in three districts in South Africa. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2012;10:77. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-10-77
."), [42](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR42 "Peltzer KNP, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors in tuberculosis patients in public primary care clinics in South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12(89):1–10."), [43](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR43 "Naidoo P, Mwaba K. Helplessness, depression, and social support among people being treated for tuberculosis in South Africa. Soc Behav Personal Int J. 2010;38(10):1323–33. doi:
10.2224/sbp.2010.38.10.1323
."), [45](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR45 "Peltzer K, Naidoo P, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms and associated factors in tuberculosis (TB), TB retreatment and/or TB–HIV co-infected primary public health-care patients in three districts in South Africa. Psychol Health Med. 2013;18(4):387–97. doi:
10.1080/13548506.2012.726364
.")\] (Table 3 in the Additional file [1](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#MOESM1)). The evidence shows that TB impacted physical functioning and mental health domains of HRQOL. Mental disorders and psychological distress were present in TB and TB/HIV co-infected patients \[[42](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR42 "Peltzer KNP, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors in tuberculosis patients in public primary care clinics in South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12(89):1–10.")\]. Depression was most prevalent (64 %), followed by PTSD (30 %), feeling of helplessness and a lack of social support \[[43](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR43 "Naidoo P, Mwaba K. Helplessness, depression, and social support among people being treated for tuberculosis in South Africa. Soc Behav Personal Int J. 2010;38(10):1323–33. doi:
10.2224/sbp.2010.38.10.1323
."), [45](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR45 "Peltzer K, Naidoo P, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms and associated factors in tuberculosis (TB), TB retreatment and/or TB–HIV co-infected primary public health-care patients in three districts in South Africa. Psychol Health Med. 2013;18(4):387–97. doi:
10.1080/13548506.2012.726364
.")\]. It was proposed that the integration of screening, treatment and mental health care services for TB patients \[[42](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR42 "Peltzer KNP, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors in tuberculosis patients in public primary care clinics in South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12(89):1–10."), [45](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR45 "Peltzer K, Naidoo P, Matseke G, Louw J, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms and associated factors in tuberculosis (TB), TB retreatment and/or TB–HIV co-infected primary public health-care patients in three districts in South Africa. Psychol Health Med. 2013;18(4):387–97. doi:
10.1080/13548506.2012.726364
.")\] would improve the quality of health and health outcomes of TB and HIV co-infected patients in South Africa \[[22](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR22 "Louw J, Peltzer K, Naidoo P, Matseke G, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Quality of life among tuberculosis (TB), TB retreatment and/or TB-HIV co-infected primary public health care patients in three districts in South Africa. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2012;10:77. doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-10-77
.")\].Adherence to treatment
Medication adherence is a complex, multi-dimensional, dynamic phenomenon comprising patient behavior with regard to the prescribed interval, dose and dosing regimen as well as appropriateness of how the medication is taken [49, 50]. In the absence of drug resistance, TB is a curable disease with a six month treatment of antibiotics [[51](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR51 "Chirwa T, Nyasulu P, Chirwa E, Ketlogetswe A, Bello G, Dambe I, et al. Levels of tuberculosis treatment adherence among sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending care at Zomba Central hospital, Southern Malaw. PLoS One. 2013;28(8):1–6. doi: 10.1371/10.1371/journal.pone.0063050.t001
.")\]. Medication adherence is a key factor for treatment success \[[52](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR52 "Africa DHRS. National tuberculosis management guidelines 2014. 2014.")\], and might have a greater impact on a population’s health than any improvement in specific medical treatments \[[53](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR53 "World Health Organization (WHO). Adherence to long-term therapies – evidence for action. 2003.
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/42682/1/9241545992.pdf
. Accessed 06 Feb 2014. ISBN 9241545992.")\]. Adherence during the intensive treatment phase (first two months) increases the chance for cure in newly diagnosed patients \[[51](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR51 "Chirwa T, Nyasulu P, Chirwa E, Ketlogetswe A, Bello G, Dambe I, et al. Levels of tuberculosis treatment adherence among sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending care at Zomba Central hospital, Southern Malaw. PLoS One. 2013;28(8):1–6. doi:
10.1371/10.1371/journal.pone.0063050.t001
.")\]. In contrast, non-adherence leads to spread of free TB bacteria in the community; this may impact the patient by resulting in disability, drug resistance, relapse and risk of death and the community by increased health costs \[[51](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR51 "Chirwa T, Nyasulu P, Chirwa E, Ketlogetswe A, Bello G, Dambe I, et al. Levels of tuberculosis treatment adherence among sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending care at Zomba Central hospital, Southern Malaw. PLoS One. 2013;28(8):1–6. doi:
10.1371/10.1371/journal.pone.0063050.t001
."), [52](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR52 "Africa DHRS. National tuberculosis management guidelines 2014. 2014."), [54](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR54 "Cramm JM, van Exel J, Moller V, Finkenflügel H. Patient views on determinants of compliance with tuberculosis treatment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Appl Q-Methodol Patient. 2010;3(3):159–72."), [55](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR55 "Husain MO, Deaman SP, Chaudhry IB, Rizvi N, Waheed W. The relationship between anxiety, depression and illness perception in tuberculosis patients in Pakistan. Clin Prac Epidemiol Ment Health. 2008;4(4):1–5. doi:
10.1186/1745-0179-44
.")\]. There is no gold standard on how to measure medication adherence. Conventional ways of adherence control in TB include pill counting and Directly Observed Treatment (DOT); under DOT medication intake is directly observed and thereby it is a surveillance tool to control adherence. A Cochrane systematic review \[[56](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR56 "World Health Organization (WHO). Global Tuberculosis Report 2013. 2013.
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/91355/1/9789241564656_eng.pdf
. Accessed 16 Feb 2014. ISBN 9789241564656.")\] compared DOT with self-supervised TB medication treatment. While DOT is an objective mechanism to control adherence, self-supervised treatment depends on the subjective adherence behavior of the patient. The Cochrane review showed no differences in adherence between the two approaches; further clinic based DOT and community based DOT showed no differences. DOT is a key element of DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy, Short course), a TB management programme from WHO that comprises five elements: government control, detection, medication supply, supervised treatment and monitoring of TB \[[56](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR56 "World Health Organization (WHO). Global Tuberculosis Report 2013. 2013.
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/91355/1/9789241564656_eng.pdf
. Accessed 16 Feb 2014. ISBN 9789241564656."), [57](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR57 "Naidoo PDJ, Cooper D. Exploring tuberculosis patients’ adherence to treatment regimens and prevention programs at a public health site. Qual Health Res. 2009;19(1):55–70.")\]. Although DOTS is commonly practiced, the cure rates in some countries are still low due to poor adherence \[[57](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR57 "Naidoo PDJ, Cooper D. Exploring tuberculosis patients’ adherence to treatment regimens and prevention programs at a public health site. Qual Health Res. 2009;19(1):55–70.")\]. A number of studies \[[14](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR14 "Adeyeye OO, Ogunleye OO, Coker A, Kuyinu Y, Bamisile RT, Ekrikpo U, et al. Factors influencing quality of life and predictors of low quality of life scores in patients on treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis: a cross sectional study. J Public Health Afr. 2014;5(2). doi:
10.4081/jphia.2014.366
."), [40](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR40 "Dion MJ, Tousignant P, Bourbeau J, Menzies D, Schwartzman K. Feasibility and reliability of health-related quality of life measurements among tuberculosis patients. Qual Life Res Int J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2004;13(3):653–65."), [41](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR41 "Atif M, Sulaiman SAS, Shafie AA, Muttalif AR, Hassali MA, Saleem F. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Co-Morbid Tuberculosis Relapse Patient: A Case Report from Malaysia. Trop J Pharm Res. 2012;11(4). doi:
10.4314/tjpr.v11i4.17
."), [43](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR43 "Naidoo P, Mwaba K. Helplessness, depression, and social support among people being treated for tuberculosis in South Africa. Soc Behav Personal Int J. 2010;38(10):1323–33. doi:
10.2224/sbp.2010.38.10.1323
."), [47](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR47 "Atif M, Sulaiman SA, Shafie AA, Asif M, Ahmad N. SF-36v2 norms and its’ discriminative properties among healthy households of tuberculosis patients in Malaysia. Qual Life Res Int J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehab. 2013;22(8):1955–64. doi:
10.1007/s11136-012-0337-x
."), [48](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR48 "Van Rie A, Sengupta S, Pungrassami P, Balthip Q, Choonuan S, Kasetjaroen Y, et al. Measuring stigma associated with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in southern Thailand: exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of two new scales. Tropical Meda Int Health. 2008;13(1):21–30. doi:
10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01971.x
."), [50](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR50 "Hughes D, Cowell W, Koncz T, Cramer J. Methods for integrating medication compliance and persistence in pharmacoeconomic evaluations. Value Health. 2007;10(6):498–509."), [54](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR54 "Cramm JM, van Exel J, Moller V, Finkenflügel H. Patient views on determinants of compliance with tuberculosis treatment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Appl Q-Methodol Patient. 2010;3(3):159–72.")–[57](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR57 "Naidoo PDJ, Cooper D. Exploring tuberculosis patients’ adherence to treatment regimens and prevention programs at a public health site. Qual Health Res. 2009;19(1):55–70.")\] identified qualitatively different factors affecting adherence based on behavioral sciences: therapy-related (adverse events), condition-related (TB symptoms, psychological stress and depression), socio-economic and demography-related (gender, age, food access,education, marital status), health system related (inadequate relationship between health care provider and patient, poor health infrastructure) and patient-related (forgetfulness, drug abuse). Adherence may also be influenced by family pressure, insufficient social support, a fear of disclosure, migration within the country or to neighboring countries. Health beliefs of the patient play a major role in adherence \[[54](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR54 "Cramm JM, van Exel J, Moller V, Finkenflügel H. Patient views on determinants of compliance with tuberculosis treatment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Appl Q-Methodol Patient. 2010;3(3):159–72."), [55](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR55 "Husain MO, Deaman SP, Chaudhry IB, Rizvi N, Waheed W. The relationship between anxiety, depression and illness perception in tuberculosis patients in Pakistan. Clin Prac Epidemiol Ment Health. 2008;4(4):1–5. doi:
10.1186/1745-0179-44
.")\] and may impact adherence positively \[[44](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR44 "Aamir S, Aisha. Co-Morbid Anxiety and Depression Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2010;20(10):703–4."), [55](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR55 "Husain MO, Deaman SP, Chaudhry IB, Rizvi N, Waheed W. The relationship between anxiety, depression and illness perception in tuberculosis patients in Pakistan. Clin Prac Epidemiol Ment Health. 2008;4(4):1–5. doi:
10.1186/1745-0179-44
."), [58](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR58 "Volmink J, Garner P. Directly observed therapy for treating tuberculosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;17(4):CD003343.")–[60](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR60 "McInerney PA, Nicholas PK, Wantland D, Corless IB, Ncama B, Bhengu B, et al. Characteristics of anti-tuberculosis medication adherence in South Africa. Appl Nurs Res. 2007;20(4):164–70. doi:
10.1016/j.apnr.2006.06.006
.")\] or negatively \[[54](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR54 "Cramm JM, van Exel J, Moller V, Finkenflügel H. Patient views on determinants of compliance with tuberculosis treatment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Appl Q-Methodol Patient. 2010;3(3):159–72."), [57](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR57 "Naidoo PDJ, Cooper D. Exploring tuberculosis patients’ adherence to treatment regimens and prevention programs at a public health site. Qual Health Res. 2009;19(1):55–70.")\]. Material incentives and enablers promote and assist adherence to TB treatment through higher clinic attendance \[[60](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR60 "McInerney PA, Nicholas PK, Wantland D, Corless IB, Ncama B, Bhengu B, et al. Characteristics of anti-tuberculosis medication adherence in South Africa. Appl Nurs Res. 2007;20(4):164–70. doi:
10.1016/j.apnr.2006.06.006
."), [61](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR61 "Dujaili JA, Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Awaisu A, Blebil AQ, Bredle JM. Health-related quality of life as a predictor of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Iraq. Int J Infect Dis. 2015;31:4–8. doi:
10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.004
.")\]. Material incentives include cash or non-cash vouchers and promoteadherence in form of a positive reward of the patient’s adherence behavior. Enablers assist adherence by directly acting to overcome financial barriers to treatment such as transport vouchers or food; it is unknown whether incentives and enablers will improve adherence in the long-term \[[61](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR61 "Dujaili JA, Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Awaisu A, Blebil AQ, Bredle JM. Health-related quality of life as a predictor of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Iraq. Int J Infect Dis. 2015;31:4–8. doi:
10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.004
.")\].South African studies on adherence
Four studies assessed adherence to TB medication in South Africa: two cross-sectional studies [62, 63] and two qualitative studies [54, 57] (Table 3 in Additional file 1). These studies indicated that TB patients were more adherent during the first two months of treatment (intensive phase) when symptoms were more present. Patients believed that they could be cured through effective treatment and through a good health alliance with their health care professional [54, 57]. A qualitative study by Naidoo et al. [57] identified a number of themes in a DOTS environment in South Africa which affect adherence behavior. Non-adherence was related to poverty, HIV co-infection, stigmatization, an unsupportive social and work environment, and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness [57]. Although the psycho-social burden in TB was higher than in HIV patients, adherence to both treatments was comparable and the psycho-social burden did not impact adherence [63]. Non-adherence was mainly affected by limited food access, a lack of public transport to clinics, the cost of transport and through social stigmatization [54, 57]. The two cross-sectional studies observed adherence by economic incentives and by patient reported outcomes. One study revealed that material incentives such as monthly vouchers of US$15 given during treatment did improve treatment completion; 35 % of patients receiving no material incentives completed treatment while 43 % of patients receiving vouchers did complete the treatment [62]. However the study was affected by a low fidelity tothe delivery of vouchers in public health clinics and further research into this is required. The other study compared medication adherence between TB and HIV patients by applying the patient-reported Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and by counting missed appointments [63]. On average TB patients missed 1.85 days of treatment and had a good self-reported adherence in this study.
The association between HRQOL and adherence during TB
Our systematic review identified one study which addressed the association between well-being and adherence in TB. This study was a meta-analysis of 44 qualitative studies including 8 studies from South Africa about adherence to TB treatment by Munro et al. [[5](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR5 "Munro S, Lewin S, Smith H, Engel M, Freiheim A, Volmink J. Patient adherence to tuberculosis treatment: a systematic review of qualitative research. PLoS Med. 2007;4(7):1230–45. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed10.1371/journal.pmed.0040238.g001
.")\]. The systematic review indicated two underlying mechanisms for the association between well-being and adherence. The first mechanism related to TB patients prematurely stopping their treatment because they felt better. The reason was that patients perceived the improvement in well-being as a cure of TB. On the other hand, the second observed mechanism referred to patients stopping treatment when they experienced no improvement or a worsening in their health status and well-being \[[5](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR5 "Munro S, Lewin S, Smith H, Engel M, Freiheim A, Volmink J. Patient adherence to tuberculosis treatment: a systematic review of qualitative research. PLoS Med. 2007;4(7):1230–45. doi:
10.1371/journal.pmed10.1371/journal.pmed.0040238.g001
."), [53](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR53 "World Health Organization (WHO). Adherence to long-term therapies – evidence for action. 2003.
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/42682/1/9241545992.pdf
. Accessed 06 Feb 2014. ISBN 9241545992.")\].HRQOL and adherence in longitudinal studies
Ten observational studies with a longitudinal design evaluating HRQOL in new smear-positive TB cases receiving TB treatment were eligible for separate data extraction as shown in Table 1 [[10](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR10 "Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Janmeja AK, Jindal SK. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under programme conditions. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(7):947–53. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.12.0299
."), [17](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR17 "Ralph AP, Kenangalem E, Waramori G, Pontororing GJ, Sandjaja, Tjitra E, et al. High morbidity during treatment and residual pulmonary disability in pulmonary tuberculosis: under-recognised phenomena. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e80302. doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0080302
."), [19](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR19 "Balgude A, Sontakke S. Study of impact of antitubercular therapy on quality of life. Indian J Med Sci. 2012;66(3–4):71–7. doi:
10.4103/0019-5359.110911
."), [26](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR26 "Dhuria M, Sharma N, Narender Pal S, Ram Chander J, Saha R, Gopal KI. A study of the impact of tuberculosis on the quality of life and the effect after treatment with DOTS. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2009;21(3):312–20. doi:
10.1177/1010539509336242
."), [28](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR28 "Marra CA, Marra F, Colley L, Moadebi S, Elwood RK, Fitzgerald JM. Health-related quality of life trajectories among adults with tuberculosis: differences between latent and active infection. Chest. 2008;133(2):396–403. doi:
10.1378/chest.07-1494
."), [29](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR29 "Chamla D. The assessment of patients’ health-related quality of life during tuberculosis treatment in Wuhan, China. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2004;8(9):1100–6."), [39](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR39 "Kruijshaar ME, Lipman M, Essink-Bot ML, Lozewicz S, Creer D, Dart S, et al. Health status of UK patients with active tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010;14(3):296–302."), [64](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR64 "Lutge E, Lewin S, Volmink J, Friedman I, Lombard C. Economic support to improve tuberculosis treatment outcomes in South Africa: a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2013;14(154):1–13.")–[66](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR66 "Atif M, Sulaiman SA, Shafie AA, Asif M, Sarfraz MK, Low HC, et al. Impact of tuberculosis treatment on health-related quality of life of pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a follow-up study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2014;12:19. doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-12-19
.")\]. Three studies took place in India \[[10](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR10 "Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Janmeja AK, Jindal SK. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under programme conditions. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(7):947–53. doi:
10.5588/ijtld.12.0299
."), [19](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR19 "Balgude A, Sontakke S. Study of impact of antitubercular therapy on quality of life. Indian J Med Sci. 2012;66(3–4):71–7. doi:
10.4103/0019-5359.110911
."), [26](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR26 "Dhuria M, Sharma N, Narender Pal S, Ram Chander J, Saha R, Gopal KI. A study of the impact of tuberculosis on the quality of life and the effect after treatment with DOTS. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2009;21(3):312–20. doi:
10.1177/1010539509336242
.")\], two in Indonesia \[[17](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR17 "Ralph AP, Kenangalem E, Waramori G, Pontororing GJ, Sandjaja, Tjitra E, et al. High morbidity during treatment and residual pulmonary disability in pulmonary tuberculosis: under-recognised phenomena. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e80302. doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0080302
."), [66](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR66 "Atif M, Sulaiman SA, Shafie AA, Asif M, Sarfraz MK, Low HC, et al. Impact of tuberculosis treatment on health-related quality of life of pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a follow-up study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2014;12:19. doi:
10.1186/1477-7525-12-19
.")\], and one each in Canada, China, Malaysia, the UK and Western Iran \[[28](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR28 "Marra CA, Marra F, Colley L, Moadebi S, Elwood RK, Fitzgerald JM. Health-related quality of life trajectories among adults with tuberculosis: differences between latent and active infection. Chest. 2008;133(2):396–403. doi:
10.1378/chest.07-1494
."), [29](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR29 "Chamla D. The assessment of patients’ health-related quality of life during tuberculosis treatment in Wuhan, China. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2004;8(9):1100–6."), [39](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR39 "Kruijshaar ME, Lipman M, Essink-Bot ML, Lozewicz S, Creer D, Dart S, et al. Health status of UK patients with active tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010;14(3):296–302."), [64](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR64 "Lutge E, Lewin S, Volmink J, Friedman I, Lombard C. Economic support to improve tuberculosis treatment outcomes in South Africa: a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2013;14(154):1–13."), [65](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR65 "Corless IB, Wantland D, Bhengu B, McInerney P, Ncama B, Nicholas PK, et al. HIV and tuberculosis in Durban, South Africa: adherence to two medication regimens. AIDS Care. 2009;21(9):1106–13. doi:
10.1080/09540120902729932
.")\]. Studies evaluated HRQOL at diagnosis or before treatment, after 4 weeks of treatment, at switch from intensive to continuous phase at two months following treatment initiation, after three months and at the end of treatment after six month. Only one study did not include HRQOL data for the end of treatment time point \[[39](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR39 "Kruijshaar ME, Lipman M, Essink-Bot ML, Lozewicz S, Creer D, Dart S, et al. Health status of UK patients with active tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010;14(3):296–302.")\]. Sample size varied from 30 \[[19](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR19 "Balgude A, Sontakke S. Study of impact of antitubercular therapy on quality of life. Indian J Med Sci. 2012;66(3–4):71–7. doi:
10.4103/0019-5359.110911
.")\] to 1034 \[[10](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR10 "Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Janmeja AK, Jindal SK. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under programme conditions. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(7):947–53. doi:
10.5588/ijtld.12.0299
.")\] with a mean sample size of 206\. Seven different HRQOL measures indentified in this review; three were generic (SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF, EQ-5D), three were dimension-specific measures, either for depression (BDI and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), or for anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Short Form), and one was respiratory-specific (St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)). Independent from HRQOL measure and health setting, all studies reported impaired HRQOL before TB treatment and an improvement in HRQOL due to TB treatment. However, it was noted that residual impairment in HRQOL remained in some patients after successful treatment \[[10](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR10 "Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Janmeja AK, Jindal SK. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under programme conditions. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013;17(7):947–53. doi:
10.5588/ijtld.12.0299
."), [26](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR26 "Dhuria M, Sharma N, Narender Pal S, Ram Chander J, Saha R, Gopal KI. A study of the impact of tuberculosis on the quality of life and the effect after treatment with DOTS. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2009;21(3):312–20. doi:
10.1177/1010539509336242
."), [28](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR28 "Marra CA, Marra F, Colley L, Moadebi S, Elwood RK, Fitzgerald JM. Health-related quality of life trajectories among adults with tuberculosis: differences between latent and active infection. Chest. 2008;133(2):396–403. doi:
10.1378/chest.07-1494
."), [64](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR64 "Lutge E, Lewin S, Volmink J, Friedman I, Lombard C. Economic support to improve tuberculosis treatment outcomes in South Africa: a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2013;14(154):1–13.")\]. Variables which were shown to predict lower HRQOL prior to treatment initiation included low socio-economic status and depression \[[39](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR39 "Kruijshaar ME, Lipman M, Essink-Bot ML, Lozewicz S, Creer D, Dart S, et al. Health status of UK patients with active tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010;14(3):296–302."), [64](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR64 "Lutge E, Lewin S, Volmink J, Friedman I, Lombard C. Economic support to improve tuberculosis treatment outcomes in South Africa: a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2013;14(154):1–13.")\]. It was also identified from the studies included in the review that HRQOL is most affected in physical and psychological or mental domains \[[29](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR29 "Chamla D. The assessment of patients’ health-related quality of life during tuberculosis treatment in Wuhan, China. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2004;8(9):1100–6."), [65](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR65 "Corless IB, Wantland D, Bhengu B, McInerney P, Ncama B, Nicholas PK, et al. HIV and tuberculosis in Durban, South Africa: adherence to two medication regimens. AIDS Care. 2009;21(9):1106–13. doi:
10.1080/09540120902729932
.")\]. The greatest improvement observed in HRQOL due to treatment was in the physical domain \[[26](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR26 "Dhuria M, Sharma N, Narender Pal S, Ram Chander J, Saha R, Gopal KI. A study of the impact of tuberculosis on the quality of life and the effect after treatment with DOTS. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2009;21(3):312–20. doi:
10.1177/1010539509336242
."), [39](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR39 "Kruijshaar ME, Lipman M, Essink-Bot ML, Lozewicz S, Creer D, Dart S, et al. Health status of UK patients with active tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010;14(3):296–302.")\].Table 1 Data Extraction of longitudinal studies evaluating HRQOL and adherence in TB
In terms of adherence, there was only one study identified that followed a longitudinal approach [[51](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR51 "Chirwa T, Nyasulu P, Chirwa E, Ketlogetswe A, Bello G, Dambe I, et al. Levels of tuberculosis treatment adherence among sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending care at Zomba Central hospital, Southern Malaw. PLoS One. 2013;28(8):1–6. doi: 10.1371/10.1371/journal.pone.0063050.t001
.")\]. This study assessed medication adherence by counting missing days from patient medical record cards. About 35 % of patients were non-adherent to TB treatment, with the majority missing less than 15 days of treatment. No longitudinal study addressed the association between HRQOL and adherence in TB.Discussion
This systematic review addressed the issues relevant to understand the impact of TB on HRQOL and medication adherence from a global perspective and specifically for South Africa using an integrative health approach. TB impacts the physical, emotional, psychological, social and economic dimensions of HRQOL, and residual impairment may be still present after treatment. We identified thirty-six studies evaluating HRQOL in TB of which twenty-one studies took place in WHO’s high-burden TB countries. Atif et al. [[67](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR67 "Mamani M, Majzoobi MM, Ghahfarokhi SM, Esna-Ashari F, Keramat F. Assessment of health-related quality of life among patients with tuberculosis in Hamadan, Western Iran. Oman Med J. 2014;29(2):102–5. doi: 10.5001/omj.2014.25
.")\] reported that most HRQOL studies in TB so far applied a cross-sectional design and our systematic review confirms this finding. Thirteen studies across high-burden countries had a cross-sectional design while only eight studies evaluated longitudinal changes (Table [2](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#Tab2)). To date, very few studies have followed changes in HRQOL longitudinally over time in TB patient populations. No longitudinal study has been conducted in South Africa even though South Africa has the highest prevalence and incidence among the 22 high-burden TB countries worldwide. Our understanding of the long-term impact of TB on HRQOL, covering the time of treatment and after treatment, is limited. There is a need for further research assessing changes in HRQOL longitudinally, specifically in high-burden countries like South Africa. Most studies on medication adherence during TB treatment employed a qualitative approach observing psychometric aspects of adherence. One systematic review of qualitative studies reported an association between HRQOL and adherence TB \[[5](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR5 "Munro S, Lewin S, Smith H, Engel M, Freiheim A, Volmink J. Patient adherence to tuberculosis treatment: a systematic review of qualitative research. PLoS Med. 2007;4(7):1230–45. doi:
10.1371/journal.pmed10.1371/journal.pmed.0040238.g001
.")\]. We found that similar factors affect HRQOL and adherence including TB therapy, health condition, socio-economic and demographic factors as well as quality of health care services. Studying the association between HRQOLand medication adherence during TB treatment will allow for a better understanding of how treatment effectiveness can be improved and care for TB patients optimised.Table 2 Eligible Studies included in Data Extraction
The studies included in this systematic review revealed similar HRQOL outcomes with a number of different measures, but a TB-specific measure is lacking. Although two studies reported developing TB-specific measures, FACIT-TB in Iraq [[59](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR59 "Yin X, Tu X, Tong Y, Yang R, Wang Y, Cao S, et al. Development and validation of a tuberculosis medication adherence scale. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e50328. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050328
.")\] and DR-12 in India \[[68](/article/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6#ref-CR68 "Dhingra VK, Rajpal S. Health related quality of life (HRQL) scoring (DR-12 score) in tuberculosis--additional evaluative tool under DOTS. J Commun Dis. 2005;37(4):261–8.")\], neither provides adequate evidence for validity or reliability. Measures applied during longitudinal HRQOL studies were generic (SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF, EQ-5D) and dimension-specific measures, either for depression (BDI and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) or for anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Short Form), one measure was specific for respiratory diseases (SGRQ). All measures reported similar HRQOL outcomes for TB and confirmed that physical health domains were more affected than mental health domains. All health domains for each measure improved during TB treatment. However, physical impairment was still present after treatment. The measures only capture parts of the health domains relevant to TB or may not be sensitive enough to observe the actual impact of TB on HRQOL. This implies the need for a TB-specific PRO measure which captures all relevant health domains and health aspects of TB including the physical, psychological and social domains. Such a measure will need to consider socio-demographic and cultural differences between patients with TB, taking into account the stigma of HIV and how the social standing of the patient within his or her community is affected. The development of such a specific measure will also allow a deeper understanding of MDR-TB, TB/HIV co-infection and extrapulmonary TB. Future studies should also include the identification of minimal clinically important difference (MCID), i.e. the smallest difference in a domain which patients perceive as an improvement or a worsening; This is unknown for TB patients and will allow understanding meaningful changes in HRQOL.Current evidence regarding the association between HRQOL and adherence in TB is lacking globally. Future research about the association between HRQOL and adherence in TB specific will help to optimize existing treatment programs, understand the limitations in TB control and targeted interventions and improving the health status of high-burden TB populations. The WHO’s End TB Strategy targets a TB free world by 2035. One of the three strategic pillars to reach this goal focuses on integrated, patient-centred TB care and prevention. HRQOL assessment allows an integrative understanding of TB from a patient perspective. Resulting knowledge supports an understanding of TB-related physical, mental and social needs and addresses diverse barriers. This patient-centred approach may support quality assessment and rationale use of medicines, which fall under the pillars of the End TB Strategy.
This systematic review had several strength and limitations. It combined qualitative and quantitative research on HRQOL and adherence and this mixed method may be viewed as strength as it ensures capturing all relevant information on the topic. The methodological quality of the eligible studies varied and might have an effect on the reported outcomes. We only applied the STROBE Statement for quality reporting to longitudinal studies; we observed a moderate reporting quality with a median of 7 out of 16 points, indicating that the quality of the articles included in this review were fairly poor. This might affect the reported information. Most studies applied different PRO measures at differing time points during treatment at different study sites, making any general conclusions regarding the impact of TB on HRQOL difficult. Studies had an observational nature rather than a controlled trial design as mostly applied in systematic reviews; however, observational studies might be more reliable as they observe patients in real life rather than under controlled ideal conditions. Publication bias may be present in this systematic review although our findings were consistent across different settings; we selected peer-reviewed literature from three different databases and included grey literature to control for publication bias. We did not include unpublished information and studies published in a different language than English.
Conclusions
The relevance and importance of HRQOL assessments is growing and HRQOL has become an important tool for the understanding of health outcomes adopting a patient-centred approach to care and treatment. Further research is required in a country-specific context to contribute to efficient decision making with regard to TB related strategies; product approval, pricing and reimbursement as well as health policy making; A number of new anti-TB drugs, vaccines and diagnostics have recently achieved marketing approval or are in late clinical development.Assessment of longitudinal changes in HRQOL and its association to medication adherence in TB in a high TB burden country such as South Africa are not yet available. Such data would support the identification of sustainable health innovations in TB by providing information on benefits and gaps in current treatment strategies tailored for a specific patient population. This will be useful to determine the value of new products and to perform appropriate cost-effectiveness analyses to optimize the allocation of societal resources specifically for South Africa. This is of high relevance as a number of new TB drugs, vaccines and diagnostics have recently achieved marketing approval or are in late clinical development. A longitudinal study assessing HRQOL and medication adherence in active TBin South Africa applying valid and reliable measures that capture all relevant aspects of TB would be necessary to assess the achievement of the WHO’s End TB Strategy pillars.
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Acknowledgements
This study is part of the Swiss South African bilateral cooperation and part of the study was supported through a grant of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Basel/Switzerland).
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Authors and Affiliations
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstr. 57, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
Tanja Kastien-Hilka - University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Tanja Kastien-Hilka - Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Tanja Kastien-Hilka & Edina Sinanovic - Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Ahmed Abulfathi & Bernd Rosenkranz - Endpoint Development and Outcomes Assessment, Adelphi Values, Bollington, UK
Bryan Bennett - Institute of Pharmaceutical Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Matthias Schwenkglenks - Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
Matthias Schwenkglenks
Authors
- Tanja Kastien-Hilka
- Ahmed Abulfathi
- Bernd Rosenkranz
- Bryan Bennett
- Matthias Schwenkglenks
- Edina Sinanovic
Corresponding author
Correspondence toTanja Kastien-Hilka.
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Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
TKH designed the study. TKH did the systematic review; TKH and AAAextracted the data. TKH analyzed the data. TKH, ES and MS wrote the manuscript. All authors read, contributed to and approved the final manuscript.
Authors’ information
This systematic review is part of a PhD research project of TKH in joint collaboration between Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel and University of Cape Town; ES and MS hold the role of joint supervisors and shared senior authorship; BR and BB acted as experts within the PhD team and reviewed the article; AAA acted as second reviewer and performed the data extraction of longitudinal studies.
MS and ES share senior authorship.
Additional file
Additional file 1: (download DOCX )
I. Search strategy for identification and selection of relevant studies. II. Quality of reporting check list for longitudinal studies. III. Studies on HRQOL and medication adherence performed in South Africa. (DOCX 682 kb)
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Kastien-Hilka, T., Abulfathi, A., Rosenkranz, B. et al. Health-related quality of life and its association with medication adherence in active pulmonary tuberculosis– a systematic review of global literature with focus on South Africa.Health Qual Life Outcomes 14, 42 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6
- Received: 07 August 2015
- Accepted: 03 March 2016
- Published: 11 March 2016
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-016-0442-6