Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infections and their predictors at a hospital-based HIV/AIDS clinic in Uganda

SETTING: Mulago Hospital Uganda. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the burden of TB-HIV (tuberculosis-human immunodeficiency virus) co-infections and their predictors in an urban hospital-based HIV programme. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Clinicians screened all patients with HIV/AIDS (acquired immune-deficiency syndrome) for previous and current TB treatment at enrolment and throughout follow-up. RESULTS: Of 10924 patients enrolled between August 2005 and February 2009 co-prevalent TB was 157/10924 (1.4%) which included 88/157 (56%) with TB confirmed at enrolment and 65/157 (41%) with TB diagnoses established during follow-up in whom symptoms were present at enrolment. Male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.3 95%CI 1.6-3.2) and body mass index (BMI) AIDS care programme identified a significant number of TB-HIV co-infections among patients with and without ART and is therefore a potential strategy to improve HIV treatment outcomes in resource-limited settings.