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BACKGROUNDWe examined the feasibility of assessing and referring adults successfully completing TB treatment for comorbidities, risk determinants and disability in health facilities in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.METHODSThis was a cross-sectional study within national TB programmes.RESULTSHealth workers assessed 1,063 patients (78% of eligible) in a median of 22 min IQR 16–35 and found it useful and feasible to accomplish in addition to other responsibilities. For comorbidities, 476 (44%) had HIV co-infection, 172 (16%) had high blood pressure (newly detected in 124), 43 (4%) had mental health disorders (newly detected in 33) and 36 (3%) had diabetes mellitus. The most common risk determinants were ‘probable alcohol dependence’ (15%) and malnutrition (14%). Disability, defined as walking CONCLUSIONSSeven in 10 patients completing TB treatment had at least one comorbidity, risk determinant and/or disability. This emphasises the need for offering early patient-centred care, including pulmonary rehabilitation, to improve quality of life, reduce TB recurrence and increase long-term survival.
Adakun et al. (Wed,) studied this question.