Tuberculosis combined with HIV infection in Russia in the period before — and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective. Analysis of the main epidemiological indicators characterizing the situation of tuberculosis combined with HIV infection in Russia during the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methods. Information from Federal Statistical Observation Forms No. 8, No. 33 and No. 61 for 2012–2021. Rosstat data on the number of patients who died from tuberculosis and HIV infection, and the average annual population of Russia, for 2011–2021. Information from the Federal statistical Observation form No. 30 on the population of Russia covered by screening aimed at early detection of tuberculosis for the period from 2018 to 2021.Results and discussion. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a noticeable impact on the implementation of the Tuberculosis Eradication Program in Russia in less than two years, breaking the 10-year stable rate of decline in tuberculosis morbidity and mortality. The reduction in screening time during the pandemic led to an increase in the number of people with common forms of tuberculosis, which could have been sources of tuberculosis infection among the population for a long time, and especially among people infected with HIV infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of patients with tuberculosis combined with HIV infection increased in the structure of the incidence of tuberculosis and HIV infection. Treatment of patients with HIV infection combined with tuberculosis with multiple and broad resistance of the pathogen is of considerable complexity and creates a high risk of death and an increase in mortality among patients of this group.