Mortality among HIV/AIDS patients with/without Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in southern region of Thailand

Object The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge of tuberculosis infection in HIV/AIDS‐infected patients, the purpose of this study was to investigate an association between tuberculosis infection and mortality in HIV/AIDS‐infected patients. Methods A prospective, hospital‐based cohort study was conducted in HIV/AIDS patients registered in hospitals between January 1993 and April 2010. In total, 52,459 patients with HIV/AIDS infection were routinely observed and followed up, covering 14 provinces in southern region of Thailand. Results The main results found that one‐third of the HIV/AIDS patients were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (27.94%) during the follow‐up period. However, the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was not statistically significant in terms of association with mortality among HIV/AIDS patients (HR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.05). In contrary, HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were more likely to have a longer life by about 19% (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.91). As well, HIV/AIDS patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis were more likely to have a longer life by about 31% (HR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.83). Conclusion In conclusion, tuberculosis infection was associated with mortality among HIV/AIDS patients. Early treatment of tuberculosis is needed for HIV/AIDS patients, in order to decrease morbidity and mortality among HIV/AIDS patients with tuberculosis.