Absolute eosinophil count correlates with temperature and CD4 count independently of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical correlates of the peripheral absolute eosinophil count (AEC) among bacteriologically confirmed TB patients in Uganda. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated data of bacteriologically confirmed adult TB patients who had a peripheral blood AEC measurement at the National TB Treatment Center in Uganda during a cross-sectional study. We performed linear regression analysis for correlates of log-transformed AEC. RESULTS: We included 235 patients in this analysis with a median (interquartile range, IQR) age of 31 (24-39) years. 60.4% were male, and 33.6% had TB/HIV co-infection. In a multivariable linear regression model that controlled for age, residence type, HIV status, weight loss, anorexia, body mass index, CD8+ T-cell count, haemoglobin level and TB bacillary load, males had a 47.0% higher AEC than females (adjusted coefficient (R2 ) = 0.385, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.012-0.759 P = 0.043). Also, a 1 °C raise in temperature resulted in an 11.5% decrease in the AEC (R2  = -0.122 95% CI (-0.233 to -0.011) P = 0.031) while a 1 cell/mm3 increase in the CD4+ T-cell count resulted in a 0.10% increase in the AEC (R2  = 0.001 95% CI (0.000-0.001) P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: The AEC was higher among males than females, consistent with the normal population distribution of AEC among Ugandans. The AEC was weakly but positively correlated with the CD4 count and negatively correlated with temperature.

OBJECTIF: Déterminer les corrélats cliniques du nombre absolu d'éosinophiles (AEC) périphériques chez les patients tuberculeux confirmés bactériologiquement en Ouganda. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODES: Nous avons évalué les données des patients adultes atteints de tuberculose (TB) confirmés bactériologiquement qui avaient une mesure de l'AEC du sang périphérique au Centre national de traitement de la TB en Ouganda au cours d'une étude transversale. Nous avons effectué une analyse de régression linéaire pour les corrélats de l'AEC convertis en log. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons inclus 235 patients dans cette analyse avec un âge médian (intervalle interquartile, IQR) de 31 (24-39) ans. 60,4% étaient des hommes et 33,6% avaient une coinfection TB/VIH. Dans un modèle de régression linéaire multivariée qui adustait pour l'âge, le type de résidence, le statut VIH, la perte de poids, l'anorexie, l'indice de masse corporelle, le nombre de lymphocytes T CD8+, le taux d'hémoglobine et la charge bacillaire de TB, les hommes avaient un AEC 47,0% plus élevé que les femmes (ajusté (R2 ) = 0,385, intervalle de confiance (IC) à 95%: 0,012 à 0,759 ; P = 0,043). Aussi, une augmentation de 1 °C de la température a entraîné une diminution de 11,5% de l'AEC (R2 = −0,122 ; IC95%: (−0,233 à −0,011) ; P = 0,031) tandis qu'une augmentation de 1 cellule/mm3 du nombre des cellules T CD4+ a entraîné une augmentation de 0,10% de l'AEC (R2 = 0,001 ; IC95% (0,000 à 0,001) ; P = 0,032). CONCLUSION: L'AEC était plus élevé chez les hommes que chez les femmes, ce qui correspond à la répartition normale de la population de l'AEC chez les Ougandais. L'AEC était faiblement mais positivement corrélée avec le nombre de CD4 et négativement corrélée avec la température.

Impact of a mobile phone-based interactive voice response software on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Uganda (CFL-TB): a protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Throughout the last decade, tuberculosis (TB) treatment success has not surpassed 90%, the global target. The impact of mobile health interventions (MHIs) on TB treatment outcomes is unknown, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). MHIs, including interactive voice response technology (IVRT), may enhance adherence and retention in the care of patients with tuberculosis and improve TB treatment outcomes. This study seeks to determine the impact of IVRT-based MHI on TB treatment success (treatment completion and cure rates) in patients with TB receiving care at five public health facilities in Uganda. METHODS: We used a theory-based and human-centered design (HCD) to adapt an already piloted software to design "Call for life-TB" (CFL-TB), an MHI that utilizes IVRT to deliver adherence and appointment reminders and allows remote symptom reporting. This open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT), with nested qualitative and economic evaluation studies, will determine the impact of CFL-TB on TB treatment success in patients with drug-susceptible TB in Uganda. Participants (n = 274) at the five study sites will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to either control (standard of care) or intervention (adherence and appointment reminders, and health tips) arms. Multivariable regression models will be used to compare treatment success, adherence to treatment and clinic appointments, and treatment completion at 6 months post-enrolment. Additionally, we will determine the cost-effectiveness, acceptability, and perceptions of stakeholders. The study received national ethical approval and was conducted in accordance with the international ethical guidelines. DISCUSSION: This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate interactive voice response technology in the context of resource-limited settings with a high burden of TB and high illiteracy rates. The software to be evaluated was developed using HCD and the intervention was based on the IMB model. The software is tailored to the local context and is interoperable with the MHI ecosystem. The HCD approach ensures higher usability of the MHI by integrating human factors in the prototype development. This research will contribute towards the understanding of the implementation and impact of the MHI on TB treatment outcomes and the health system, especially in LMICs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04709159 . Registered on January 14, 2021.

An Interactive Voice Response Software to Improve the Quality of Life of People Living With HIV in Uganda: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Following the successful scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the focus is now on ensuring good quality of life (QoL) and sustained viral suppression in people living with HIV. The access to mobile technology in the most burdened countries is increasing rapidly, and therefore, mobile health (mHealth) technologies could be leveraged to improve QoL in people living with HIV. However, data on the impact of mHealth tools on the QoL in people living with HIV are limited to the evaluation of SMS text messaging; these are infeasible in high-illiteracy settings. OBJECTIVE: The primary and secondary outcomes were to determine the impact of interactive voice response (IVR) technology on Medical Outcomes Study HIV QoL scores and viral suppression at 12 months, respectively. METHODS: Within the Call for Life study, ART-experienced and ART-naïve people living with HIV commencing ART were randomized (1:1 ratio) to the control (no IVR support) or intervention arm (daily adherence and pre-appointment reminders, health information tips, and option to report symptoms). The software evaluated was Call for Life Uganda, an IVR technology that is based on the Mobile Technology for Community Health open-source software. Eligibility criteria for participation included access to a phone, fluency in local languages, and provision of consent. The differences in differences (DIDs) were computed, adjusting for baseline HIV RNA and CD4. RESULTS: Overall, 600 participants (413 female, 68.8%) were enrolled and followed-up for 12 months. In the intervention arm of 300 participants, 298 (99.3%) opted for IVR and 2 (0.7%) chose SMS text messaging as the mode of receiving reminders and health tips. At 12 months, there was no overall difference in the QoL between the intervention and control arms (DID=0.0; P=.99) or HIV RNA (DID=0.01; P=.94). At 12 months, 124 of the 256 (48.4%) active participants had picked up at least 50% of the calls. In the active intervention participants, high users (received >75% of reminders) had overall higher QoL compared to low users (received <25% of reminders) (92.2 versus 87.8, P=.02). Similarly, high users also had higher QoL scores in the mental health domain (93.1 versus 86.8, P=.008) and better appointment keeping. Similarly, participants with moderate use (51%-75%) had better viral suppression at 12 months (80/94, 85% versus 11/19, 58%, P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was high uptake and acceptability of the IVR tool. While we found no overall difference in the QoL and viral suppression between study arms, people living with HIV with higher usage of the tool showed greater improvements in QoL, viral suppression, and appointment keeping. With the declining resources available to HIV programs and the increasing number of people living with HIV accessing ART, IVR technology could be used to support patient care. The tool may be helpful in situations where physical consultations are infeasible, including the current COVID epidemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02953080; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02953080.

One dollar incentive improves tuberculosis treatment outcomes in programmatic settings in rural Uganda.

The study aim was to determine the association of a one United States dollar (USD) dollar incentive and tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes among people with TB receiving treatment at a rural hospital in Uganda under programmatic settings. We conducted a quasi-experiment in which people with TB were randomised (1:1 ratio) to receive either a one USD incentive at months 0, 2, 5 and 6 (Dollar arm) or routine care (Routine arm). A second control group (Retrospective controls) consisted of participants who had a treatment outcome in the preceding 6 months. Treatment outcomes were compared between the intervention and control groups using Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. The association between the incentive and treatment outcomes was determined using Poisson regression analysis with robust variances. Between November 2018 and October 2019, we enrolled 180 participants (60 in the Dollar arm and 120 in the Control group). TB cure (33.3% vs. 20.8%, p = 0.068) and treatment success (70.0% vs. 59.2% p = 0.156) were higher in the Dollar arm than the Control group, while loss-to-follow-up was lower in the Dollar arm (10.0% vs. 20.8% p = 0.070). Participants in the Dollar arm were more likely to be cured (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR): 1.59, 95% CI 1.04-2.44, p = 0.032) and less likely to be lost to follow-up (aIRR: 0.44, 95% CI 0.20-0.96, p = 0.040). A one-dollar incentive was associated with higher TB cure and lower loss-to-follow-up among people with TB in rural Uganda.