Risk Factors for Tuberculosis in the AIDS Cases Reported in Brazil, 1980-2000

Abstract

Background: Aids affects the epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis, due to both the changes in the clinical progress of the jointly affected patients, as well as the increase in the number of tuberculosis cases among individuals having tested positive for hiv/aids. This may lead to an increase in the transmission of the bacillus among the population. this study is aimed at identifying the factors related to the occurrence of tuberculosis among aids cases reported to the brazilian ministry of health. Methods: a cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted, the aids cases initially having been classified into 2 categories (1) with tuberculosis and (2) without tuberculosis. a comparison was subsequently drawn among 4 groups: (1) no opportunist infection, (2) only tuberculosis (pulmonary and/or disseminated), (3) with other opportunist infections except tuberculosis and (4) with tuberculosis in conjunction with other opportunist infections. The bivariate analysis was adjusted by logistic regression. Results: in the regression analysis, the highest tuberculosis prevalences were significantly linked to age under 40, little schooling, living in the southeast region of the country and diagnosis made prior to 1996. The means of transmission most closely associated to the presence of tuberculosis was the use of intravenous drugs, followed by heterosexual relations. when 4 consecutive periods in the evolution of the reporting aids case definition, there had been a decrease in cases with tuberculosis since 1996, as well as significant increases in the proportion of patients with no opportunist infection. Conclusions: Gender, age and school attendance are predictors of the presence of tuberculosis among opportunist infections.