A five-year audit of gaps in HIV testing and associations with TB treatment outcomes in Armenia, 2015-2019

Arpine Abrahamyan; Katrina Hann; Kristina Akopian; Ruzanna Grigoryan; Ofelya Petrosyan; Hayk Davtyan

doi:10.3855/jidc.13767

A five-year audit of gaps in HIV testing and associations with TB treatment outcomes in Armenia, 2015-2019

Authors

Arpine Abrahamyan Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Center, Yerevan, Armenia
Katrina Hann Sustainable Health Systems, Sierra Leone
Kristina Akopian Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Center, Yerevan, Armenia
Ruzanna Grigoryan Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Center, Yerevan, Armenia
Ofelya Petrosyan FMD K and L Europe Contract Research Organization, Yerevan, Armenia
Hayk Davtyan Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Center, Yerevan, Armenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.13767

Keywords:

SORT IT, operational research, presumptive TB, not tested for HIV, database completeness, HIV status unknown

Abstract

Introduction: Poor human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing practices and underreporting of HIV-related data in TB information systems remain barriers to effective care for TB-HIV co-infected patients. HIV testing and recording practices in national TB program have not been formally evaluated in Armenia. This study aimed to assess the recording completeness of HIV testing and HIV status in the national TB program electronic database, and to determine trend in HIV testing and the association between HIV testing and treatment outcomes for all TB patients registered in Armenia (2015-2019).

Methodology: A cohort study of TB patients using routine programmatic data from the national TB program of Armenia.

Results: From 2015 to 2019, the electronic database was completed for HIV testing and HIV status by 48.1% and 97.5%, respectively. Of all registered TB patients 93.6% were tested for HIV. Of a total 4,674 patients, 1,085 (23.2%) had unsuccessful outcomes. Patients with HIV status “not tested” and “not recorded” compared to HIV “negatives” had 1.76 (95%CI 1.42-2.11) and 1.6 (95%CI 1.20-2.06) times higher risk of unsuccessful outcomes, respectively. Lost to follow-up was the most frequent unsuccessful outcome in HIV status “not tested” group.

Conclusions: An analysis of nationwide data revealed incompleteness of the national TB electronic database for HIV data. Patients with HIV status “not tested” and “not recorded” had higher risk of unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes. Upgrade of the electronic database with information on key indicators of TB-HIV services will facilitate improved monitoring and reporting.

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Published

2021-09-29

How to Cite

Abrahamyan A, Hann K, Akopian K, Grigoryan R, Petrosyan O, Davtyan H (2021) A five-year audit of gaps in HIV testing and associations with TB treatment outcomes in Armenia, 2015-2019. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:43S-50S. doi: 10.3855/jidc.13767

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Issue

Vol. 15 No. 09.1: September 2021 - SUPPLEMENT

Section

EECA Regional SORT IT

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