Tuberculosis burden and its predictors among people living with HIV/AIDS at a Nigerian treatment centre: a prospective study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of death in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This study assessed TB burden and its predictors among PLWHA receiving care at the State Specialist Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.
METHODS: A prospective study was conducted among PLWHA screened clinically for TB from February 2009 till December 2019. Information collected included their socio-demographic characteristics, other variables, TB signs and symptoms, and CD4 count. PLWHA with at least one TB symptom or sign underwent laboratory diagnosis. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: A total of 4057 PLWHA were screened clinically for TB during the study period. They were 982 (24.2%) males and 3075 (75.8%) females. Six hundred and ninety-eight (33.4%) were diagnosed with TB. On logistic regression analysis, predictors of TB included being female (AOR=3.53, 95%CI=2.72-4.59, p<0.001), having lower education (AOR=2.53, 95%CI=2.07-3.10, p<0.001), having low socio-economic status (AOR=34.54, 95%CI=21.10-56.52, p=0.0001), being underweight (AOR=3.28, 95%CI=2.69-4.10, p<0.001) and having CD4 count <200/ml (AOR=3.69, 95%CI=3.04-4.47, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: PLWHA had a high TB burden with predictors including low socio-economic status, being female, having had lower education, low CD4 count, and being underweight. Addressing these factors may reduce the TB burden among PLWHA.