Socio-Demographic and Behavioral Risk Factors of Tuberculosis Relapse among Tuberculosis Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Fergana Region, Uzbekistan

The objective: to identify socio-demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with occurrence of tuberculosis relapse among tuberculosis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fergana Region, Uzbekistan. Subjects and Methods. The article describes a cross-sectional study among tuberculosis patients admitted to hospital in 2020-2022. 1499 patients were enrolled in the study. Univariate and bivariate analysis of socio-demographic and behavioral parameters was conducted. Results. Bivariate odds ratio analysis of demographic factors revealed that individuals aged 18-29 years were 3.1 times more likely to develop tuberculosis relapse, while those aged 30-49 years were 2.2 times more likely to develop tuberculosis relapse versus those aged 70 years and older. Also, unmarried people were 4 times more likely to develop tuberculosis relapse than divorced people. While individuals who frequently consumed fatty foods were 2.6 times more likely to develop tuberculosis relapse.