Table 4 Interval between first sputum examination and anti-tuberculous treatment among pulmonary TB patients, stratified by NAA strategy.

From: Nucleic acid amplification tests reduce delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

 

No NAA (A)

With NAA (B)

(B − A) Difference (95% CI)a

NAA strategy

(C − A) Difference (95% CI)b

(D − A) Difference (95% CI)c

(D − C) Difference (95% CI)d

Front line NAA (C)

Add-on NAA (D)

Overall population

Case number

989

931

 

249

682

   

Median (days)

18

5

 − 10.5* (− 9.9 to − 12.0)

3

6

 − 12.4* (− 15 to − 9.8)

 − 9.7* (− 11.5 to − 8)

2.6* (0.5 to 4.8)

Interquartile range (days)

4–31

2–11

 

1–7

3–13

   

Smear-positive population

Case number

184

710

 

171

539

   

Median (days)

3

4

0.1 (− 2.1 to 1.9)

2

5

 − 3.4* (− 5.8 to − 1.0)

0.93 (− 1.3 to 3.2)

4.3* (2.3 to 6.4)

Interquartile range (days)

1–6.5

2–7

 

1–4

3–8

   

Smear negative population

Case numbers

805

221

 

78

143

   

Median (days)

21

17

 − 3.6* (− 0.7 to − 6.4)

9

18

 − 5.7* (− 10.2 to − 1.2)

 − 2.4 (− 5.8 to 1.0)

3.3 (− 1.9 to 8.5)

Interquartile range (days)

9–34

6–29

 

4–30

9–28

   
  1. Data are presented as n (%).
  2. NAA nucleic acid amplification, TB tuberculosis.
  3. aComparison of mean differences between patients with and without NAA test.
  4. bComparison of mean differences between patients with frontline NAA and no NAA test.
  5. cComparison of mean differences between patients with add-on NAA and no NAA test.
  6. dComparison of mean differences between patients with frontline and add-on NAA test.
  7. *p value < 0.05.
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