HIV-1 seroprevalence in chest clinic and hospital tuberculosis patients in New York City, 1989-1991.

OBJECTIVE

To describe more fully HIV-1 and tuberculosis (TB) coinfection in TB patients attending New York City Department of Health chest clinics (1989-1991) and one inner-city hospital (1990-1991).

DESIGN

An unlinked serosurvey using HIV-1-antibody testing of remnant blood specimens collected for routine medical purposes.

SUBJECTS: A total of 1414 clinic and 856 hospital patients.

OUTCOME MEASURES: HIV seropositivity and TB infection/disease.

RESULTS

A total of 327 (23%) of the clinic patients were HIV-1-positive, with a significantly higher seroprevalence in men (29 versus 15%, P < 0.001) and in young and middle-aged adults aged 30-50 years (P < 0.001). HIV-1 prevalence by TB diagnostic class was: class 2 (purified protein derivative-positive and chest radiograph-negative), 11% (64 out of 570); class 3 (active disease), 34% (197 out of 582); class IV (old/inactive disease), 30% (39 out of 130). Of the hospital patients 487 (57%) were HIV-1-positive. HIV-1 seroprevalence was 55% for those who were identified or believed to be HIV-1-negative on admission as indicated on the medical chart. HIV-1 seroprevalence in the clinic population decreased initially, but later increased, although not to study onset levels.

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable overlap between the TB and HIV epidemics in New York City; a part of the increasing TB incidence may be independent of HIV coinfection. The control of TB will necessitate prompt diagnosis of TB and HIV-1, appropriate TB treatment and/or chemoprophylaxis, and a greater commitment to tackle the social conditions associated with the spread of the disease.