Association of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate with Treatment Outcome in Patients Suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Islamabad

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association of erythrocyte sedimentation rate with treatment outcome in patients
suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Margalla General
Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan from July 2022 to January 2023.
Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis by a consultant pulmonologist based on
clinical and radiological criteria were included in the study. They underwent all baseline investigations,
including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, at the time of diagnosis. Patients were started on the usual
treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and followed up for three months. At the end of three months, clinical
outcome was determined along with repetition of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the association
between both parameters was assessed.
Results: A total of eighty-seven patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were included in the final analysis after
application of inclusion/exclusion criteria. AT the end of three months, 70 (80.4%) patients had significant
clinical improvement, while 17 (19.6%) did not show significant clinical improvement. 77 (88.5%) patients had
an Erythrocyte sedimentation rate less than 50mm/h while 10 (11.5%) had more than 50mm/h. Chi-square
analysis showed that reduced levels of Erythrocyte sedimentation rate had a statistically significant relationship
with the presence of clinical improvement at the end of three months of treatment (P-value<0.001).
Conclusion: Reduction in Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was found to be associated with clinical improvement
at the end of three months of treatment in patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. As a cost-effective
biochemical marker associated with clinical improvement, it can be effectively incorporated into patient
management plans.

How to cite this: Afzal M, Hassan Z, Afzal S, Azhar R, Quershi H, Hassan S. Association of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate with Treatment Outcome in Patients Suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Islamabad. Life and Science. 2025; 6(3): 399-404. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.605