Depression Level and Quality of Life between Shorter and Longer Regimens among Patients with Multidrug-resistant...

This study estimated the prevalence of depression among Indonesian multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients and quality of life (QoL) between shorter and longer regimens, as well as factors associated with depression.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Haji Hospital from May to November 2024, using the Indonesian Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the WHOQOL BREF to assess depression and QoL. A cutoff ≥5 of the PHQ-9 score was classified as depression. We used an independent t -test to analyze the differences between the two groups and a bivariate test to analyze depression-related factors.

Eighteen and 24 MDR-TB patients received shorter and longer regimens during the study period. The study found that the prevalence of depression was higher (55.1%) in patients receiving longer regimens than in shorter regimens (33.3%), with a P = 0.036. 16/24 of patients (55.2%) had mild-to-moderate depression in longer regimens. MDR-TB patients who had a history of TB treatment were 4.97 times more likely to develop depression. The mean score of each domain and the total score of WHOQOL BREF were similar between the two groups, with a P ≥ 0.05.

In conclusion, approximately 50% of MDR-TB patients receiving longer regimens had depression, and a history of TB treatment is a risk factor for developing depression; therefore, TB treatment approaches should address psychological distress among MDR-TB patients.