ANALYSIS OF MORTALITY FROM TUBERCULOSIS CONCURRENT WITH HIV INFECTION

Abstract

The presidential order lays down that tuberculosis mortality is a main criterion for evaluating the efficiency of antibuberculosis care to the population.

Objective: to determine whether this criterion may be used to assess the activity of a phthisiatric service in its work with HIV-infected patients.

Materials and methods. Why there was a discord in statistical data on death in patients with tuberculosis concurrent with HIV infection in the subjects of the Russian Federation was analyzed applying recording form No. 263-y/TB (a total of 49,559 cases during 7 years) and discussed with a number of investigators.

Results. Analysis of death rates in patients with tuberculosis concurrent with HIV infection has shown that it may be of informative value only when the determinations of accounted cases are clearly understood. The use of statistical data without clearly understanding the pathogenesis of both diseases leads to incorrect conclusions and may considerably discredit the activity of a phthisiatric service.

The latter should have individual criteria based on the clear understanding of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis at different stages of HIV infection to assess antituberculosis care to HIV-infected patients. Of them, the basic criteria must be those reflecting the extent to which the antiepidemic measures are observed when rendering health care to HIV-infected patients.