[HIV-pulmonary tuberculosis co-infection at the university clinics of Lubumbashi: epidemiological and clinical aspects].

INTRODUCTION

this study aims to provide an overview of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HIV-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) co-infection among patients treated at the University Clinics of Lubumbashi.

METHODS

we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study based on the analysis of medical records of patients with tuberculosis admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of the University Clinics of Lubumbashi, located in the southeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during the year 2019.

RESULTS

HIV-tuberculosis co-infection was identified in 37 out of 66 medical records reviewed (56.0%). Compared to HIV-negative patients, TB in HIV-positive individuals was more frequently observed in patients aged 40 years and older (56.8% vs. 34.4%, p = 0.004), in females (78.9% vs. 46.8%, p = 0.01), in cases of recurrent TB (37.8% vs. 27.5%), and in those with a history of diabetes mellitus (8.1% vs. 3.4%). Just over one-third of co-infected patients (37.4%) originated from the peripheral neighborhoods of the city of Lubumbashi, most of which are characterized by unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. Smear-negative forms of tuberculosis, lacking bacteriological confirmation, were predominant among co-infected patients (48.6% vs. 34.4%). Mortality rate at discharge was 13.5% among the co-infected patients. Mortality was associated with the following factors: smear-positive TB (21.0% vs. 5.5%), male sex (18.1% vs. 6.6%), diabetes mellitus (33.3% vs. 11.7%), and age over 40 years (19.0% vs. 6.2%).

CONCLUSION

HIV-pulmonary tuberculosis co-infection is a frequent condition among inpatients at the University Clinics of Lubumbashi. The epidemiological and clinical profile is marked by the presence of factors that may adversely affect short-term prognosis.