Prevalence and predictors of tuberculosis among HIV patients who completed isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) at Reach out Mbuya community health initiative

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals in Sub Saharan Africa, including Uganda. Isoniazid prophylaxis therapy (IPT) is a major public health intervention to limit tuberculosis disease among people living with HIV. However, there is limited information about the influence of IPT on TB disease incidence and its associated risk factors among HIV positive patients in Uganda especially at Reach out-Mbuya community health initiative hence the study. A cross sectional study was conducted among HIV positive adult patients who completed a 6-months long daily treatment of Isoniazid preventive therapy. Sputum samples and urine samples were collected and analysed using Gene Xpert and lateral flow urine Lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) tests respectively for presence of Tuberculosis disease. Data analysis was performed using STATA (version 14). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to assess the risk factors associated with tuberculosis among the study population and significance estimated at 95% confidence level. A total of 103 HIV positive adults was studied. The mean age of the participants was 42.1 (10.5) and median age was 43 (IQR = 16). The prevalence of tuberculosis disease among HIV positive adult patients who completed Isoniazid preventive therapy was 5.8% (6/103). Counselling, the only significant factor, reduced the likelihood of occurrence of TB disease among HIV patients on IPT treatment (aOR:0.028, P-value < 0.001). A low prevalence of TB disease was observed among HIV patients on IPT treatment. Counselling is a protective factor of TB disease among HIV patients on IPT treatment.