The feasibility of using an 'opt-out' approach to achieve universal HIV testing of tuberculosis patients in Alberta.
نویسندگان
چکیده
OBJECTIVE Universal HIV testing of tuberculosis (TB) patients, defined as testing greater than 80% of incident cases, has been recommended but not achieved in Canada. The objectives of this study were: i) to assess the success of an 'opt-out' approach, whereby HIV testing is routine unless the patient specifically chooses otherwise, and ii) to determine the risk factors for HIV in patients tested before and after this approach was implemented. METHODS TB and HIV databases in the province of Alberta were cross-matched before HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) was available (1991-1997), after HAART but before 'opt-out' testing was implemented (1998-2002), and after 'opt-out' testing was implemented (2003-2006), and the HIV status of TB patients in each time period was described. The demographic and clinical characteristics of HIV-positive and -negative TB patients aged 15-64 years were compared. RESULTS HIV testing of TB patients increased from 11.5% before HAART, to 44.9% after HAART but before 'opt-out' testing, to 81.9% after 'opt-out' testing was implemented. Between 1991 and 2006, 50 TB patients were diagnosed with HIV co-infection, all in the age group 15-64 years. Among TB patients aged 15-64 years who were HIV tested, those testing positive were significantly less likely to be female and to have respiratory TB and significantly more likely to have both respiratory and non-respiratory TB. The prevalence of HIV positivity in HIV-tested TB patients aged 15-64 years was 7.4% in 2003-2006. CONCLUSION Universal HIV testing of TB patients is achievable through 'opt-out' HIV testing.
منابع مشابه
A 10-Year Population Based Study of ‘Opt-Out’ HIV Testing of Tuberculosis Patients in Alberta, Canada: National Implications
INTRODUCTION Compliance with the recommendation that all tuberculosis (TB) patients be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has not yet been achieved in Canada or globally. METHODS The experience of "opt-out" HIV testing of TB patients in the Province of Alberta, Canada is described over a 10-year period, 2003-2012. Testing rates are reported before and after the introduction of the ...
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عنوان ژورنال:
- Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique
دوره 100 2 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2009