Systematic Differences in TB Treatment Outcomes Across Brazil by Patient- and Area-Related Factors: An Analysis of National Disease Registry Data

Using national registry data from Brazil’s National Disease Notification Information System for patients diagnosed with tuberculosis between 2015 and 2018, this study examines variation in treatment outcomes across patient- and area-level factors. The authors model unsuccessful treatment outcomes—including death, loss to follow-up, and treatment failure—using logistic regression with regularized interactions. They decompose state- and municipality-level variation into differences attributable to individual characteristics and contextual factors. The findings highlight substantial heterogeneity in TB treatment success and identify opportunities to strengthen treatment services by addressing both patient-level vulnerabilities and area-level health system factors.