Predictors of Tuberculosis in HIV/AIDS Patients Referred to Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center: A Registry-Based Study in Abadan, Southwest of Iran

Background: In the world, it is estimated that 36.9 million people are living with HIV (PLHIV). Tuberculosis (TB) remains as the leading cause of death among PLHIV. This study aimed to determine the predictors of TB among HIV positive patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on the data from 366 patients with HIV/AIDS acquired from 2010 to 2013 in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, southwest of Iran. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from patients’ medical records in Abadan and Khorramshahr triangular clinics. Univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to identify TB predictors among HIV/AIDS patients. Results: The prevalence of TB patients was 21.9% among HIV patients. About 57.4% of the patients were below 35 years of age, and most of them (85.5%) were male. Univariate logistic regression showed a statistically significant association between the occurrence of TB and explanatory variables including sex, imprisonment history, HCV and HBV status, addiction, stage of disease, CD4 cell and TLC (Total lymphocyte count) count. In multivariate analysis, being addicted (adjusted or = 7.03, 95% CI: 1.28, 38.66) and positive HBV (adjusted or = 4.28, 95% CI: 1.53, 12.00) were associated with incidence of TB after adjusting for age, sex, phase at diagnosis, addiction and HBV status. Conclusions: Addiction and HBV infection can be considered as predictors of incidence of TB in HIV/AIDS patients then early diagnosis of TB especially in higher-risk groups, such as those with addiction and HBV infection is recommended.