title: Factors associated with length of hospital stay among HIV positive and HIV negative patients with tuberculosis in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Identify and analyze the factors associated to length of hospital stay among HIV positive and HIV negative patients with tuberculosis in Manaus city, state of Amazonas, Brazil, in 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiological study with primary data obtained from monitoring of hospitalized patients with tuberculosis in Manaus. Data were collected by interviewing patients and analyzing medical records, according to the following study variables age, sex, co-morbidities, education, race, income, lifestyle, history of previous treatment or hospitalization due to tuberculosis, treatment regimen, adverse reactions, smear test, clinical form, type of discharge, and length of hospital stay. The associated factors were identified through chi-square or t-Student test at a 5% significance level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Income from 1 to 3 minimum wages (P = 0.028), pulmonary tuberculosis form (P = 0.011), negative smear test or no information in this regard (P = 0.014), initial 6-month treatment scheme (P = 0.029), and adverse drug reactions (P = 0.021) were associated to prolonged hospital stay in HIV positive patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found out that although there were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay in HIV positive patients, all factors significantly associated to prolonged hospital stay occurred in this group of patients. This finding corroborates other studies indicating the severity of tuberculosis in HIV patients, which may also contribute to lengthen their hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Health, Society, and Endemic Diseases in the Amazon, Amazonas Federal University/Para Federal University/Leonidas & Maria Deane Institute (Fiocruz Foundation), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. jaciremagoncalves@gmail.com
authors.forename: Maria Jacirema Ferreira
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Alaidistania A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult