Reduced tuberculosis case notification associated with scaling up antiretroviral treatment in rural Malawi

R. Zachariah*, M. Bemelmans, A. Akesson, P. Gomani, K. Phiri, B. Isake, T. Van Den Akker, M. Philips, A. Mwale, F. Gausi, J. Kwanjana, A. D. Harries

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report on the trends in new and recurrent tuberculosis (TB) case notifications in a rural district of Malawi that has embarked on large-scale roll-out of antiretroviral treatment (ART). METHODS: Descriptive study analysing TB case notification and ART enrolment data between 2002 and 2009. RESULTS: There were a total of 10 070 new and 755 recurrent TB cases. ART scale-up started in 2003, and by 2007 an estimated 80% ART coverage had been achieved and was sustained thereafter. For new TB cases, an initial increase in case notifications in the first years after starting ART (2002-2005) was followed by a highly significant and sustained decline from 259 to 173 TB cases per 100 000 population (χ2 for trend 261, P < 0.001, cumulative reduction for 2005-2009 = 33%, 95%CI 27-39). For recurrent TB, the initial increase was followed by a significant drop, from 20 to 15 cases/100 000 (χ2 for linear trend = 8.3, P = 0.004, constituting a 25% (95%CI 9-49) cumulative reduction between 2006 and 2009. From 2005 to 2009, ART averted an estimated 1164 (95%CI 847-1480) new TB cases and 78 (95%CI 23-151) recurrent TB cases. CONCLUSIONS: High ART implementation coverage is associated with a very significant declining trend in new and recurrent TB case notifications at population level.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)933-937
Number of pages5
JournalInternational journal of tuberculosis and lung disease
Volume15
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ART
  • Case notification
  • Malawi
  • Scale-up
  • TB

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