Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is the strongest risk factor for developing tuberculosis and has fuelled its resurgence, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2010, there were an estimated 1.1 million incident cases of tuberculosis among the 34 million people living with HIV worldwide. Antiretroviral therapy has substantial potential to prevent HIV-associated tuberculosis. We conducted a systematic review of studies that analysed the impact of antiretroviral therapy on the incidence of tuberculosis in adults with HIV infection. PubMed, Embase, African Index Medicus, LILACS, and clinical trial registries were systematically searched. Randomised controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, and retrospective cohort studies were included if they compared tuberculosis incidence by antiretroviral therapy status in HIV-infected adults for a median of over 6 mo in developing countries. For the meta-analyses there were four categories based on CD4 counts at antiretroviral therapy initiation: (1) less than 200 cells/µl, (2) 200 to 350 cells/µl, (3) greater than 350 cells/µl, and (4) any CD4 count. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Antiretroviral therapy is strongly associated with a reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis in all baseline CD4 count categories: (1) less than 200 cells/µl (hazard ratio [HR] 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07 to 0.36), (2) 200 to 350 cells/µl (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.60), (3) greater than 350 cells/µl (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.63), and (4) any CD4 count (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.44). There was no evidence of hazard ratio modification with respect to baseline CD4 count category (p = 0.20). Antiretroviral therapy is strongly associated with a reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis across all CD4 count strata. Earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy may be a key component of global and national strategies to control the HIV-associated tuberculosis syndemic. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42011001209 Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.
Highlights
Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are major threats to global public health
Antiretroviral therapy is strongly associated with a reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis across all CD4 count strata
Two studies reported effect estimates for baseline CD4 counts less than 200 cells/ml [42,47], four studies reported effect estimates for baseline CD4 counts from 200 to 350 cells/ml [42,45,47,51], and three studies reported effect estimates for baseline CD4 counts greater than 350 cells/ml [42,43,45] (Figure 2)
Summary
Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are major threats to global public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Stop TB Partnership have endorsed the Millennium Development Goal targets and aim to reduce the global annual incidence of active tuberculosis to less than one case per million population by 2050 [5]. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is the strongest risk factor for developing tuberculosis and has fuelled its resurgence, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2010, there were an estimated 1.1 million incident cases of tuberculosis among the 34 million people living with HIV worldwide. To tackle HIV-associated tuberculosis, which occurs mainly in developing countries, WHO recommends that HIV and tuberculosis programs use collaborative approaches such as the Three I’s for HIV/TB strategy—intensified tuberculosis case-finding among HIV-positive people, isoniazid preventative therapy for HIV-positive people without active tuberculosis, and (tuberculosis) infection control in healthcare facilities, social settings, and households
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