Food incentives to improve completion of tuberculosis treatment: randomised controlled trial in Dili, Timor-Leste

Study answer

What this study found

Food supplementation did not improve the primary outcome of tuberculosis treatment completion. Completion was 103/136 (76%) in the intervention group versus 100/129 (78%) in controls, RR 0.98 (0.86 to 1.11), P = 0.7. Intensive-phase adherence was actually lower with food support, 86.7% (18.6) versus 91.4% (13.3), P = 0.02. The intervention modestly improved weight gain at 8 weeks, 5.2% (6.2) versus 3.5% (6.3), P = 0.04, and at 32 weeks, 10.1% (9.6) versus 7.5% (7.6), P = 0.04. Itch was more common in the intervention group, 21% versus 9%, RR 2.27 (1.20 to 4.26), P = 0.008.

Study & population

Randomized controlled trial in adults with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis in Dili, Timor-Leste, recruited from three community clinics.

Intervention

Adults receiving standard tuberculosis treatment were given culturally appropriate food support in addition to usual care.

Key limitation

The trial was conducted in one city among predominantly poor, malnourished adults with pulmonary tuberculosis, so generalizability to other settings is limited.

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Original abstract