TITLE:
Clinical, Diagnostic, and Evolutionary Profiles of TB Patients Followed up in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Short Report
AUTHORS:
Germain Likolombi Mambandu, Alliance Tagoto Tepungipame, Serge Bisuta Fueza, Joris Losimba Likwela
KEYWORDS:
Clinical Profile, Biological Profile, Therapeutic Profile, Evolutionary Profile, Tuberculosis, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.7,
July
14,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Tuberculosis disproportionately affects disadvantaged populations. Individuals with comorbidities such as HIV and diabetes are more vulnerable to developing TB. Tshopo Province presents disparities in health outcomes across different health zones, indicating challenges in care management. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical, diagnostic, and evolutionary profiles of TB patients followed up at Kisangani’s Tuberculosis Diagnostic and Treatment Centers. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted from January 2020 to June 2023 involving 1204 TB patients followed up in the TB diagnostic centers of Kisangani. The data were collected via Kobotoolbox, processed in Excel, and analysed via Stata. Results: The study population consisted primarily of young adult males, with a predominance of pulmonary tuberculosis (62.79%) and classic TB symptoms (cough, fever, night sweats). Despite a high treatment success rate (95.51%), TB remains a major cause of mortality among treatment failure patients, particularly in the presence of HIV coinfection. Conclusion: Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in Kisangani, primarily affecting young adults. Despite encouraging treatment success rates, TB-related mortality rates remain high, highlighting the need to strengthen prevention, screening, and integrated HIV-TB care strategies.