Unhealthy alcohol use independently associated with unfavorable TB treatment outcomes among Indian men

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of incident TB cases worldwide are attributable to alcohol. However, evidence associating alcohol with unfavorable treatment outcomes is weak. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated men (≥18 years) pulmonary in India for up 24 months investigate the association between use and outcomes. Unhealthy was defined as a score ≥4 on Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C) scale at entry. Unfavorable included failure, recurrence, all-cause mortality, analyzed composite independent endpoints. RESULTS: Among 751 men, we identified unhealthy 302 (40%). Median age 39 years (IQR 28–50); 415 (55%) were underweight (defined body mass index [BMI] <18.5 kg/m 2 ); 198 (26%) experienced an outcome. risk factor outcome (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.47, 95% CI 1.05–2.06; P = 0.03) death (aIRR 1.90, 1.08–3.34; 0.03), specifically. found significant interaction AUDIT-C BMI; had increased 2.22, 1.44–3.44; < 0.001) compared BMI ≥18.5 <4. CONCLUSION: independently associated outcomes, highlighting need integrating effective interventions into care.