Abstract

Background:Lesotho has a huge burden of human immunodeficiency virus associated tuberculosis (HIV-TB). In this study we compared the effectiveness of early versus late commencement of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adults living with HIV-TB in Lesotho.Methods: Three out of 17 hospitals were randomly selected and data extracted from the hospitals’ tuberculosis (TB) treatment registers for 247 adults living with HIV-TB who completed TB therapy during the first quarter of 2012.Results: Eighty (32%) commenced ART early (4 weeks), 100 (41%) were started late (≥4 weeks) and 67 (27%) received no ART. Both early and late ART initiators were more likely to have a successful TB outcome (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 10.1, 95% CI: 3.7 - 27.5 and AOR 8.4, 95% CI: 3.4 - 20.6, respectively) relative to the group who had no ART (p 0.001).Conclusions: Effective treatment exists for managing HIV-TB simultaneously. The guidelines for initiation of ART in adult HIV-TB in Lesotho have not been fully implemented, but those who commenced ART had significant clinical benefits. Health departments must address the challenges encountered in treating HIV-TB simultaneously to ensure those co-infected receive optimal care.

Highlights

  • Human immunodeficiency virus associated tuberculosis (HIV-TB) is the leading cause of death in Africa

  • There were 247 participants with HIV-TB, enrolled in the study, of which 180 (73%) participants were commenced on antiretroviral therapy (ART), 80 (44%) early (

  • Factors associated with TB treatment outcomes After the bivariate regression, some predictors, namely hospital, CD4+ T-cell count and both stages when initiated on ART remained significant and, were included into the multivariable analysis

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus associated tuberculosis (HIV-TB) is the leading cause of death in Africa. Lesotho has a huge burden of human immunodeficiency virus associated tuberculosis (HIV-TB). In this study we compared the effectiveness of early versus late commencement of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adults living with HIV-TB in Lesotho. Methods: Three out of 17 hospitals were randomly selected and data extracted from the hospitals’ tuberculosis (TB) treatment registers for 247 adults living with HIV-TB who completed TB therapy during the first quarter of 2012. Results: Eighty (32%) commenced ART early (

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call