Evaluation of nutritional status of new tuberculosis patients at the effia-nkwanta regional hospital.

SUMMARY
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition among pulmonary TB patients prior to starting treatment and assess the impact of socio-economic characteristics on their nutritional status
DESIGN: Intervention study
SETTING: Communicable Diseases Unit, Effia-Nkwanta Regional hospital, Sekondi, Ghana PARTICIPANTS: A total of 570 newly diagnosed adults with pulmonary tuberculosis
INTERVENTIONS: A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and socio-economic information, after which basic anthropometric measurements were done at registration and after two months of TB treatment MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body mass index (BMI) at time of starting treatment and change in BMI after two months of treatment
RESULTS: The mean BMI at registration was 18.7 kg/m(2); 51% were malnourished; 24%, 12% and 15% respectively had mild, moderate and severe malnutrition. Two months after starting treatment, the mean BMI was 19.5 kg/m(2); 40% were malnourished; 21%, 11% and 8% respectively had mild, moderate and severe malnutrition. Using univariate regression analysis, nutritional status was significantly associated with marital status, income per month, educational level, believe in avoiding certain food types and immediate family size at the time starting TB treatment. Two months after starting treatment, change in BMI was significantly associated with age group, marital status, employment status, educational level and belief in avoiding certain food types.
CONCLUSIONS: Half of TB patients were malnourished at the time of registration. However, the initiation of treatment resulted in improvement in nutritional status of the patients, with socio-economic factors being important correlates of the observed malnutrition. The findings can be used to advance the argument in support for nutritional supplementation among TB patients in Ghana.