Treatment outcome among HIV positive and HIV negative TB patients in Chandigarh, India: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Introduction: HIV infected persons are more susceptible to becoming infected with TB. India has the highest TB burden in the world and accounts for 23% of the global incidence of TB cases. The prevalence of Tb/HIV coinfection is 5%. This paper aims to find prevalence of coinfection in Chandigarh. Further, the various outcomes of TB treatment in coinfected patients are compared with those among non-HIV-infected TB patients registered under RNTCP. Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in April 2012-March 2014. Data collection was done from the ART Centre and the Designated Microscopy Centres (DMCs) under RNTCP. The total number of PLHIVs on active ART (212) and the new TB Cases (Pul & EP) taking treatment from the DMCs (3551) were taken. Patients were followed and treatment outcome among HIV –TB coinfected patients was compared with only TB patients. Results: Out of total patients taking DOTS (3551), 2.5%(88) were HIV positive. Out of 212 HIV positive patients, 17.4% (37) had tuberculosis. Cure rate (70%) was more among the HIV negative population as compared to the coinfected patients (21.6%). Rate of treatment completion was 63.6% among the HIV positive patients. Prevalence of MDR-TB was 1.1% among the coinfected and 3.8% among the HIV negative TB patients. 8% of the coinfected patients died during the course of their treatment as compared to 2.6% among the HIV negative TB patients. Conclusion: Compared to those with TB only, co-infected patients showed better TB treatment success rates and lower rates of treatment default and failure. Death rate among the coinfected patients was almost double than that in the only TB patients.