title: Outcomes of tuberculosis patients who start antiretroviral therapy under routine programme conditions in Malawi.
abstract: METHODS
  Public sector facilities in Malawi providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients, including those with tuberculosis (TB).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare 6-month and 12-month cohort treatment outcomes of HIV-positive TB patients and HIV-positive non-TB patients treated with ART.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data collection using ART patient master cards and ART patient registers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between July and September 2005, 7905 patients started ART, 6967 with a non-TB diagnosis and 938 with a diagnosis of active TB. 6-month cohort outcomes of non-TB and TB patients censored on 31 March 2006 showed significantly more TB patients alive and on ART (77%) compared with non-TB patients (71%) (P < 0.001). Between January and March 2005, 4580 patients started ART, 4179 with a non-TB diagnosis and 401 with a diagnosis of active TB. 12-month cohort outcomes of non-TB and TB patients censored on 31 March 2006 showed significantly more TB patients alive and on ART (74%) compared with non-TB patients (66%) (P < 0.001). Other outcomes of default and transfer out were also significantly less frequent in TB compared with non-TB patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-positive TB patients on ART in Malawi have generally good treatment outcomes, and more patients need to access this HIV treatment.
authors: Clinical HIV Unit, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe 3, Malawi.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Makombe
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Harries
authors: J K-L
authors: JK
authors: Yu
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hochgesang
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Mhango
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Weigel
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Pasulani
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fitzgerald
authors: E J
authors: EJ
authors: Schouten
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Libamba
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents