Clinical and radiological epidemiological features of smear-positive tuberculosis patients in the era of triple antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this work was to compare the epidemiological, clinical and radiological aspects during bacilliferous tuberculosis between HIV positive patients under ARV treatment and HIV negative. Methodology: This was a prospective, descriptive and comparative study conducted from December 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019 (6 months) at Jamot Yaoundé Hospital. Smear-positive tuberculosis patients meeting our inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. We split them into two groups, HIV + and HIV - Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 software. The comparison of the data was made by the Chi² test, that of the quantitative data with the Student's T test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: For HIV positive, the mean age was 41.1 ± 14.4 years versus 39.8 ± 14.8 years in the HIV negative group. HIV + patients aged 35 to 44 were more represented [49.5 versus 17.1% (P <0.0001)]. The sex radio was 1.03 for the HIV positive versus 3.31 for the HIV negative group. The HIV + group had fewer single people, had more history of tuberculosis (22.2 versus 9.8%). HIV + patients were more likely to have a WHO performans status score 4, and were more febrile [96.8 versus 85.4% (p = 0.021)]. The normal chest x-ray was more common. Interstitial and alveolar syndromes were less common. Conclusion: The proportions of both sexes were almost identical. Almost half were 35 to 44 years old They had more history of tuberculosis. A WHO score of 4 and were generally febrile. Chest x-ray was often normal.Interstitial and alveolar syndromes were less common.