Clinical and epidemiological aspects of tuberculosis in patients with HIV/sida

Abstract

Objective: In this study, the objective was to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological aspects of tuberculosis in HIV+ individuals in the State of Alagoas. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and retrospective study that analyzed the reports of TB-HIV co-infection between 2001 and 2016 in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. To develop a profile of co-infection, clinical and epidemiological variables were used for new cases of HIV-TB obtained together with the Superintendence of Health Surveillance of the State of Alagoas. Results: There was a rise in the number of co-infected patients from 2001 to 2016. Seropositive patients living in the State were the majority male (74.2%), of economically productive age (93.7%), with low educational level and black (92.5%). Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common clinical form (77.3%), followed by the peripheral ganglion extrapulmonary subtype (7.5%). The most diagnostic strategy for clinical reasoning was the radiographic examination of the thorax (72.5%). There was a TB death in 9.5% of the investigations. The percentage of cure of new cases of tuberculosis in HIV+ individuals in the state of Alagoas was below the 85% goal agreed by the WHO. Conclusion: The results evidenced the epidemiological relevance of tuberculosis as a comorbidity with a great impact on the health of seropositive individuals at the state level.