TUBERCULOSIS MORTALITY IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS, USE OF THE TUBERCULOSIS PREVENTION REGIMEN, AND QUALITY OF LIFE: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA BETWEEN 2018–2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is the infectious disease that kills the most worldwide as an isolated cause and is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Therefore, early diagnosis and timely treatment are fundamental points in the care of PLHIV. This study aims to analyze data on mortality among HIV patients with mention of TB among causes of death and the use of tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) in PLHIV. Ecological, retrospective, observational study based on analysis of data made available in the 2025 tuberculosis epidemiological bulletin and the 2025 TB/HIV coinfection bulletin. Mortality with mention of TB among causes of death in HIV-positive patients and the use of TPT were evaluated from 2018 to 2023. Between 2018–2023, 29,779 PLHIV initiated TB preventive treatment. TPT use decreased between 2018 and 2020, from 12.8% to 11.7%, respectively. During this period, the proportion of HIV deaths with mention of TB remained around 20% (21.7%–20%). However, from 2021 onward, TPT increased, reaching 17.5% in 2023. In the same period, mortality rates with mention of TB among causes of death in HIV patients decreased compared with 2018–2020, reaching the lowest percentage in 2022 (18.8%). It is also highlighted that TB/HIV coinfection impacts quality of life due to fear of social stigma, removal from workplaces, culminating in catastrophic costs for families; TB-related sequelae can negatively impact care. TB/HIV coinfection is of extreme relevance for public health. TPT may be associated with reduced TB-related death in PLHIV. Quality of life influences the health-disease process, and implementing patient support measures during coinfection is relevant.