The epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in southern Brazil in times of AIDS.
METHODS
Urban area in southern Brazil.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection among new cases of tuberculosis recorded in 2000 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based study.


RESULTS
Among 1713 new tuberculosis cases, HIV testing was not available for 29.8% and results were unknown for 1.8%. Of 1171 with known results, 47% had HIV co-infection. HIV seropositivity was 44% higher in males. The 15-59 years age group had 3.4 times more seropositive cases than the group aged >59 years. Individuals with <8 years of schooling presented 57% more co-infection. HIV positivity was twice as frequent in extra-pulmonary and combined forms of tuberculosis as in pulmonary forms. Hospitalization was 2.4 times more common in HIV-positive individuals. The overall cure rate was 69.8%, while in co-infected patients it was 43.9%. The determinants of risk of death from tuberculosis included <8 years of schooling (PR 2.2, 95%CI 1.2-3.7), HIV seropositivity (PR 8.0, 95%CI 5.0-12.9), combined pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (PR 1.7, 95%CI 1.2-2.5) and diagnosis during admission rather than in out-patient clinics (PR 5.4, 95%CI 2.9-10.1).


CONCLUSIONS
The co-occurrence of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS indicates a need to integrate the control programs for these two diseases. The health care system should invest in early diagnosis and adherence to treatment for both diseases.
Aerts
D
D
School of Medicine and Master's Program in Collective Health, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Brazil. daerts@via-rs.net
Jobim
R
R
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*