Causes of death in HIV-infected patients in a large tuberculosis hospital of Kemerovo region

The aim was to study the causes of death in HIV patients in the Novokuznetsk tuberculosis dispensary in 2016 (population is 550 thousand people; about 2% of population are HIV-positive). Materials and methods: Protocols of all autopsies of HIV-infected patients (n=221) performed in 2016 in the Novokuznetsk tuberculosis dispensary. Results: The mean age of the deceased was 37±6,9 years. HIV and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection was in 83,3% of patients (n=184), HIV/TB and other opportunistic or severe somatic diseases - in 10,4% (n=23), non-tuberculous opportunistic diseases - in 6,3% (n=14). The new tuberculosis cases were in 71,1% (n=147), relapses - in 7,2% (n=15), chronic tuberculosis cases - in 21,7% of patients (n=45). Disseminated form prevailed among the cases of respiratory tuberculosis; generalized tuberculosis (3 and more localizations) occurred in 87,0% (n=180), tuberculosis meningitis was found in 17,9% (n=37). Positive fluorescent sputum microscopy was in 72.5%, sputum cultures on Loewenstein-Jensen medium - in 78,3% with HIV/TB. Primary multidrug resistance was detected in 60,7% (including in 5,8% of them with primary extensively drug resistance). Severe opportunistic infections or malignancies were in 9,2% of HIV/TB (n=19) and in 78,7% of non-TB patients (n=11). Data on the CD4 level was known in 68,8% of cases (n=152): the median count was 75,5 cells/μl; 38,9% of new TB cases (n=46) were diagnosed with HIV in time of TB detecting. Antiretroviral therapy was performed only 13% of patients (n=29). Conclusion: There is a need for the optimization of HIV detecting approaches and early initiation of antiretroviral therapy before the appearance of incurable opportunistic diseases, as well as for comprehensive TB prevention.