Why do our patients die of active tuberculosis in the era of effective therapy

Abstract Setting: All patients with tuberculosis as a primary or underlying cause of death who were autopsied at the Institute for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Sremska Kamenica, in the former Yugoslavia, between 1981 and 1990 were investigated. Objective: To study why people die of active tuberculosis in the era of effective chemotherapy and to identify factors contributing to death. Design: In a retrospective investigation, this index group was compared with a control group consisting of patients who suffered from tuberculosis over the same period but who improved and were discharged from hospital. Results: A significant difference in age ( P P Conclusion: Delay in the detection of tuberculosis was the main factor contributing to death in our patients.