The Effect of long term HAART on the incidence of tuberculosis among HIV
positive individuals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Nested Case-Control
Study
Abstract
Background: The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART)
significantly decreases the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( HIV) positive individuals
during their follow-up. However, a considerable proportion is still
co-infected with TB after ART initiation. Thus, this study aimed to
assess the determinants of TB incidence among HIV-positive
individuals during their ART follow-up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted among
HIV-positive individuals who were enrolled in ART clinics in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 2013 up to 2018. Cases were tuberculosis
co-infected HIV positive individuals who were taking
antiretroviral treatment, while controls were TB free HIV
positive individuals who were taking antiretroviral treatment. The cases
and controls are matched exactly in age and sex. Data were entered in
EpiInfo version 7.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariable and
multivariable conditional logistic regression were employed along with
95% CI. A P-value <0.05 in the multivariable analysis was
considered statistically significant. Results: Fifty-seven
cases were compared with 114 controls pair-matched exactly in age and
sex. Accordingly, previous TB history (X 2; 13.790
, P<0.001), baseline functional
status (X 2; 9.120 ,
P=0.010), baseline WHO clinical stage (X 2;
10.083 , P=0.001), baseline hemoglobin value (X
2; 6.985 , P=0.008), baseline
body mass index (X 2; 3.873 ,
P=0.049), isoniazid preventive treatment intake status (X
2; 8.047 , P=0.005), baseline
CD4 value (X 2; 12.741 ,
P<0.001) and length of stay on ART (X
2; 53.359 ,
P<0.001) were associated with TB infection. Length of
stay on ART was found to be the statistically significant determinant of
TB infection after ART initiation (aOR=5.925, 95%CI=2.649-13.250).
Conclusion: Advanced clinical stages at the baseline, previous
TB history, and not taking IPT were associated with TB infection. The
long term ART exposure significantly decreases tuberculosis incidence in
HIV patients. Screening HIV-positive patients for
tuberculosis throughout their ART follow-up would be important early
detection and treatment of tuberculosis.