When is TB-Aids co-infection treatment discontinued? An analysis of the situation in Brazil

Brazil has high levels of TB-AIDS co-infection. Objective: To analyse differences and similarities, with respect to each State in Brazil and to the Federal District, concerning the stage at which TB-AIDS co-infection treatment is discontinued. The study period was 2008-13. Methods: Cross-sectional, quantitative study, using data from the Diseases and Notification Information System administered by the Brazilian Health Ministry. The data were analysed using the statistics program R, and the results are represented graphically by dotplots and dendrograms. Results: 58,704 cases of tuberculosis-AIDS co-infection were recorded. Rates of cure were under 30%. In the States of Paraiba and Pernambuco, treatment dropout was almost 50%.Mortality levels were high, at 70-90% in some States. Multiresistant TB was observed in less than 20%of cases. The rate of non-treated/non-resolved cases was 70% in Bahia. Transfer rates varied widely, with the highest level being recorded in Alagoas (80% of cases). Conclusion: Global goals are far from being met. There is considerable operational diversity in the public health policies of the different States. TB-AIDS co-infection should be monitored continuously and the epidemiological information system regularly updated in order to control this double epidemic.