Outcomes of tuberculosis patients who start antiretroviral therapy under routine programme conditions in Malawi.
Makombe, SD;
Harries, AD;
Yu, JK-L;
Hochgesang, M;
Mhango, E;
Weigel, R;
Pasulani, O;
Fitzgerald, M;
Schouten, EJ;
Libamba, E;
(2007)
Outcomes of tuberculosis patients who start antiretroviral therapy under routine programme conditions in Malawi.
The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease, 11 (4).
pp. 412-416.
ISSN 1027-3719
https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/10044
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SETTING: Public sector facilities in Malawi providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients, including those with tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVES: To compare 6-month and 12-month cohort treatment outcomes of HIV-positive TB patients and HIV-positive non-TB patients treated with ART. DESIGN: Retrospective data collection using ART patient master cards and ART patient registers. RESULTS: Between July and September 2005, 7905 patients started ART, 6967 with a non-TB diagnosis and 938 with a diagnosis of active TB. 6-month cohort outcomes of non-TB and TB patients censored on 31 March 2006 showed significantly more TB patients alive and on ART (77%) compared with non-TB patients (71%) (P < 0.001). Between January and March 2005, 4580 patients started ART, 4179 with a non-TB diagnosis and 401 with a diagnosis of active TB. 12-month cohort outcomes of non-TB and TB patients censored on 31 March 2006 showed significantly more TB patients alive and on ART (74%) compared with non-TB patients (66%) (P < 0.001). Other outcomes of default and transfer out were also significantly less frequent in TB compared with non-TB patients. CONCLUSION: HIV-positive TB patients on ART in Malawi have generally good treatment outcomes, and more patients need to access this HIV treatment.