Objective To systematically review the treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients, and to provide evidence for treatment. Methods Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP were electronically searched to collect literature related to MDR-TB from inception to April 28th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using R 4.0.5 software, subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed based on sample size, survey time, etc. Results A total of 36 studies involving 7 981 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the overall treatment success rate of MDR-TB patients was 60% (95%CI 56% to 63%). The subgroup analysis showed that the treatment success rates of MDR-TB were 49% (95%CI 41% to 58%) from 1992 to 2010, 62% (95%CI 58% to 65%) from 2011 to 2015, and 62% (95%CI 55% to 68%) from 2016 to 2020; those with sample size above 100 and less than 100 were 60% (95%CI 55% to 65%) and 59% (95%CI 54% to 63%), respectively; those with average age above 45 and less than 45 were 58% (95%CI 51% to 65%) and 56% (95%CI 53% to 59%); those of MDR-TB were 63% (95%CI 57% to 68%) in central China, 63% (95%CI 52% to 73%) in the Northwest, 60% (95%CI 55% to 65%) in the Southeast, and 53% (95%CI 48% to 58%) in the Northeast. Conclusions The overall success rate of treatment for MDR-TB patients in China is low. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusions.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the status of 3 types of delay (patient delay, diagnostic delay and treatment delay) among tuberculosis (TB) patients in China, to determine their associations with economic factors, and to provide guidance for policies regarding TB control. MethodsThe CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, ScienceDirect and Web of Science databases were searched from January 1st, 2001, to December 31st, 2021, for cross-sectional studies related to the 3 types of delay among TB patients in China. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using R 4.1.3 software. ResultsA total of 22 cross-sectional studies involving 9 498 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the pooled rates of patient delay, diagnostic delay and treatment delay were 41% (95% CI 34% to 48%), 36% (95% CI 28% to 45%) and 18% (95% CI 10% to 32%), respectively. Family economic status was significantly associated with patient delay (OR=1.32, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.64, P=0.01), diagnostic delay (OR=1.55, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.97, P<0.01) and treatment delay (OR=1.60, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.60, P=0.05). Conclusion The rates of the 3 types of delay in Chinese TB patients are high, and all 3 types of delay are significantly associated with poor family economic status among the patients. Measures should be taken to reduce the incidence of the various types of delays due to the financial burden that is imposed on TB patients.