Treatment outcome, mortality and their predictors among HIV-associated tuberculosis patients

The risk of death is significantly higher in HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis (TB). This study aims to evaluate the impact of demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics on the treatment outcome and mortality of TB/HIV co-infected patients in a tertiary TB centre in Iran. In total, 111 patients were recruited from 2004 to 2007. Mycobacteriological studies and demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from all patients were analysed and predictors of unsuccessful outcomes as well as mortality were determined. The mean age for all 111 TB-HIV patients was 38 ± 9 years (range 22-70) and 107 (96.3%) were men; 104 (93.7%) had a history of drug abuse and 96 (86.4%) had a history of imprisonment. The method of HIV transmission was intravenous drug use in 88 (79.3%). Twenty-three (20.7%) had a history of Category 1 (CAT I) TB treatment and six (5.4%) Category 2 (CAT II) treatment. Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) was given to 48 (43.2%). No significant associations were found between treatment outcomes or mortality and gender, smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, imprisonment, method of transmission, history of CAT I and CAT II treatments, CD4 counts or adverse effects (P > 0.05). Administration of cART led to significantly better outcomes (P < 0.001). Lower serum albumin levels and low body weight were significantly associated with mortality.