title: Risk factors for default from tuberculosis treatment in HIV-infected individuals in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concomitant treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and tuberculosis (TB) presents a series of challenges for treatment compliance for both providers and patients. We carried out this study to identify risk factors for default from TB treatment in people living with HIV.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cohort study to monitor HIV/TB co-infected subjects in Pernambuco, Brazil, on a monthly basis, until completion or default of treatment for TB. Logistic regression was used to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and P-values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From a cohort of 2310 HIV subjects, 390 individuals (16.9%) who had started treatment after a diagnosis of TB were selected, and data on 273 individuals who completed or defaulted on treatment for TB were analyzed. The default rate was 21.7% and the following risk factors were identified: male gender, smoking and CD4 T-cell count less than 200 cells/mm3. Age over 29 years, complete or incomplete secondary or university education and the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were identified as protective factors for the outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results point to the need for more specific actions, aiming to reduce the default from TB treatment in males, younger adults with low education, smokers and people with CD4 T-cell counts < 200 cells/mm3. Default was less likely to occur in patients under HAART, reinforcing the strategy of early initiation of HAART in individuals with TB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil. magdamaruza@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruza
authors.forename: Maria F P Militão
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.forename: Líbia V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Ulisses R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Montarroyos
authors.forename: Demócrito B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Miranda Filho
authors.forename: Heloísa R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Ricardo A A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ximenes
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001938:Brazil; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult