Prevalence and the risk factors associated with HIV-TB co-infection in Kermanshah Province, Iran: trends between 2005 and 2021

Background: the HIV prevalence among TB patients is much higher than that observed in the general population. This study was designed to assess prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection and to determine its factors. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kermanshah Province from March 2005 to December 2021. The study population included all TB-positive patients who had healthcare records in the Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Center of the province. TB was routinely diagnosed by the positive sputum smear (Ziehel-Neelsen) and confirmed by taking GeneXpert as the reference investigation. Primary HIV infection was diagnosed by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plus, positive ELISA results were then confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Result: Of 2569 TB patients, 366 (14.2%) were reported HIV–TB co-infection.  The risk of HIV infection for male was 2.84 times more than that in female. There was a statistically significant increase in risk of HIV infection for those who had pulmonary TB (OR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.46-2.94]). Patient with age between 0–15 years old (OR = 0.17, 95% CI [0.05-0.21]), 45–60 years old (OR = 0.14, 95% CI [0.04-0.19]), and ≥ 60 years old (OR = 0.09, 95% CI [0.01-0.13]) were all statistically significant for lower risk of HIV infection. Urban cases (OR = 2.48, 95% CI [1.89-3.73]) share a higher risk in HIV infection. Conclusion: TB/HIV control programs that educate people on the prevalence and focus on these subgroups are likely to decrease the joint burden of TB and HIV.

Prevalence and the risk factors associated with HIV-TB co-infection in Kermanshah Province, Iran: trends between 2005 and 2021 Keywords:

Tuberculosis , human immunodeficiency virus , Trend , co-infection.