Abstract:
Background: In resource-constrained settings, many people with HIV (PWH) are treated for tuberculosis
(TB) without bacteriologic testing. Their mortality compared to those with bacteriologic testing is
uncertain.
Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study among PWH ≥15 years of age initiating TB
treatment at sites affiliated with four International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS consortium
regions from 2012-2014: Caribbean, Central and South America, and Central, East, and West Africa. The
exposure of interest was the TB bacteriologic test status at TB treatment initiation: positive, negative, or
no test result. The hazard of death in the 12 months following TB treatment initiation was estimated
using Cox proportional hazard model. Missing covariate values were multiply imputed.
Results: In 2,091 PWH, median age 36 years, 53% had CD4 counts ≤200 cells/mm3, and 52% were on
antiretroviral therapy (ART) at TB treatment initiation. The adjusted hazard of death was higher in
patients with no test compared to positive test results (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.08-2.26). The hazard of death
was also higher among those with negative compared to positive tests but was not statistically
significant (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.91-1.81). Being on ART, having a higher CD4 count and tertiary facility level
were associated with a lower hazard for death.Conclusion: There was some evidence that PWH treated for TB with no bacteriologic test results were at
higher risk of death than those with positive tests. Research is needed to understand the causes of
death in PWH treated for TB without bacteriologic testing.
