title: Survival of HIV-infected patients after starting tuberculosis treatment: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the probability of survival and to evaluate risk factors for death in a cohort of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) who had started tuberculosis (TB) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted between June 2007 and December 2009 with HIV-infected patients who had started anti-tuberculosis treatment in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Survival data were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, the log-rank test and the Cox model. Hazard ratios and their respective 95%CIs were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a cohort of 2310 HIV-positive individuals, 333 patients who had commenced treatment for TB were analysed. The mortality rate was 5.25 per 10,000 person-years (95%CI 4.15-6.63). The probability of survival at 30 months was 74%. Risk factors for death in the study population were being female, age ≥30 years, having anaemia, not using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during treatment for TB and disseminated TB. Protective factors for death were a CD4 lymphocyte count >200 cells/mm(3) and treatment for TB having started in an out-patient clinic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of HAART can prevent deaths among HIV-TB patients, corroborating the efficacy of starting HAART early in individuals with TB.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. magdamaruza@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruza
authors.forename: M F P M
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: M T S
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byington
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: J D L
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: G T N
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Miranda-Filho
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: R A A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ximenes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents