Abstract: Objective  To investigate the socioeconomic status and treatment cost of MDR-TB patients compared to non-MDR-TB in Henan province in 2010 to provide evidence for comprehensive TB control strategies.  Methods  Participants were randomly selected by using Excel generated random digits table from an anti-TB drug resistance surveillance survey dataset collected by the Institute for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Henan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in 2001, supported by the World Health Organization. Interviews were carried out using a questionnaire to collect information on the socioeconomic status including wealth and impacts and treatment costs between MDR-TB and non-MDR-TB patients. Bivariate analysis was performed for data analysis. Altogether 234 TB cases were interviewed. Among the interviewed cases, 86 were MDR-TB cases and 148 were non-MDR-TB cases based on their anti-TB drug resistance status. In order to compare,  t-test was applied in continuous variables and Chi square test was used for categorical variables.  Results  Compared to non-MDR-TB household, the proportion of annual household income less than 5000 Yuan for MDR-TB patient’s household was much higher. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (55.3%,47/85 vs 38.1%,56/147, χ²=6.9，P=0.031). 47.1%(40/85)of MDR-TB patients’ households were in lower 1/3 in term of economic status compared to other households in the community, while 32.9% (48/146)non-MDR-TB patients’ household ranked in lower 1/3(χ²=4.6, P=0.032). Compared to households with non-MDR-TB patients, higher proportion of MDR-TB patients’households had bedrooms less than 3 (37.8%,31/82 vs 17.9%,26/145). The difference between the two study groups was statistically significant(χ²=11.0，P=0.004). More proportion of households with MDR-TB patients reported loan for TB treatment and can not pay back in time(19.0%,15/79 vs 4.5%,6/134χ²=13.4，P=0.001). Much higher MDR-TB households paid treatment costs more than 10000 Yuan compared to non-MDR-TB households (30.2%, 26/86 vs 9.5%,14/148). The difference between two groups was statistically significant(χ²=19.7, P=0.001).  Conclusion  Economic burden on TB patients, especially on MDR-TB patients is serious. Compared to households with non-MDR-TB patients, the MDR-TB patients’ households is poorer. MDR-TB patients’ households tend to pay more on TB treatment costs as well.

Key words: Tuberculosis/economics, Socioeconomic factors, Fees,medical, Henan province