Epidemiological characteristics and treatment outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis with or without human immunodeficiency virus

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics, treatment outcome and its influencing factors of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) with or without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and provide evidence for developing more effective TB control strategies.

Methods The information of PTB patients registered in Fujian province from 2011 to 2020 was collected from China National TB Surveillance System. Differences between PTB with and without HIV-positive individuals were analyzed by Chi-square testing. Univariate and multivariate risk factors for unsuccessful anti-TB therapy were analyzed by logistic regression ,with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results　The proportion of men, migrant workers and local households with HIV positive was higher than HIV negative (χ²-values were 37.365, 4.775, 22.448 and 22.826, respectively, P<0.05). However, among HIV-positive PTB patients, the proportion of initial treatment and bacteriological diagnosis was lower than in HIV-negative PTB patients (χ²-values were 7.443 and 21.250, respectively, P<0.05). The rate of successful treatment in PTB with HIV-positive (86.4%) was higher than in PTB with HIV-negative (91.7%) (χ²=12.441, P<0.05). The risk of unsuccessful anti-TB treatment in HIV positive PTB patients was 1.999 times greater than that of HIV negative PTB patients (OR=1.999, 95%CI: 1.448−2.759).

Conclusion PTB with characteristics of men, migrant workers or local households were more likely to co-infect HIV, while those with characteristics of initial treatment or bacteriological diagnosis were less likely to co-infect HIV. Co-infection with HIV was an independent risk factor for unsuccessful anti-TB therapy in PTB patients.