Background Treatment of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) involves drugs that can prolong the QT interval. There is limited data on risk factors and the level of cardiac monitoring required. We analysed STREAM Stage 2 data to address these issues. Methods A post-hoc analysis was undertaken of data from participants allocated to 3 regimens: 9-month control (n=202), 9-month oral (n=211) and 6-month (n=143). Risk factors for development of a QT or QTcF interval ≥500ms were assessed. The diagnostic accuracy of a monitoring strategy for QT/QTcF prolongation was tested. Results QT/QTcF ≥500ms occurred on all regimens: 9-month control (n=14 (6.9%)), 9-month oral (n=8 (3.8%)) and 6-month (n=6 (4.2%)). The participating country with the highest number of QT/QTcF interval ≥500ms events was Mongolia (18 events 64%). A higher baseline QTcF was significantly associated with development of QT/QTcF ≥500ms (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.07, p<0.001). There was a suggested association between moxifloxacin (compared to levofloxacin, OR 2.49; 95% CI 0.92 to 6.71, p = 0.07) and a higher baseline TSH (OR 3.52; 95% CI 0.84 to 14.73, p=0.08) and increased odds of QT/QTcF ≥500ms. The monitoring strategy performed well in the control (sensitivity 100%; specificity 62%; positive predictive value (PPV) 13% and negative predictive value (NPV) 100%) and oral (sensitivity 100%, specificity 59%, PPV 6% and NPV 100%) regimen groups. Conclusions Baseline QTcF and country were associated with increased odds of QT/QTcF prolongation. The monitoring strategy performed well in the identification of participants at higher risk of QT/QTcF prolongation.
Hughes et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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