Trends in Tuberculosis/Human Immunodeficiency Virus Comorbidity, Latvia, 2012-2014

Aims: To describe the rates of HIV cases and Tuberculosis co-infection in Latvia from 2012 through 2014.

Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted by Riga Eastern Clinical Univesity Hospital(RECUH) Latvian Center of Infectology (LCI) HIV datebase. 2293 TB-patients were reported. 288 (12,6%) of all TB patients were HIV-infected. All patients had TB epidemiology during the last years and define variables predicting TB/HIV co-infection. In the same time between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2014 were diagnosed tuberculosis with HIV co-infection. Temporal trends were estimated by Statistical (SPSS) version 22.0 for Windows.

Results: In this study were reported 2 293 TB-patients from 2012 to 2014. 288 (12,6%) of all TB patients were HIV-infected. By years 2012-2013-2014, the rate of tuberculosis had been 43,0-38,3-31,8 per 100 000 population accordingly. Most cases of tuberculosis represented new disease (86%, n = 249). Most of patients had extra-pulmonary disease (54%, n = 87/162), closely followed by pulmonary TB alone (46%, n = 75/162). We identified a trend toward increase in tuberculosis prevalence and mortality.

Conclusion: Incidence rate of TB is positively correlated with HIV prevalence. Social inequality and the advent of AIDS are the major factors that aggravate the current situation of tuberculosis. We recommend for Latvian Ministry of Health use complete guidelines for the best management of HIV-infected patients and especially for those who co-infected TB, by targeting all health care personnel in a concerted educational outreach.