ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the epidemiology of Tuberculosis and determine the characteristics of patients infected by HIV vs those not infected. DESIGN: A descriptive-retrospective study. SETTING: Ibiza and Formentera Health Area. PATIENTS: 268 patients over 16 diagnosed with TB between 7/1/1987 and 12/31/1993. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The highest accumulated annual incidence was detected in 1989 (82.4/100,000 inhabitants), but had decreased considerably by 1993 (42.8/100,000). The proportion of HIV+ cases increased to 37.0% of the total in 1993. 75% of the total were male and 57.5% between 20 and 39 (x = 38.1; SD = 15.4). 63.1% had pulmonary TB, 60.8% producing bacilli, 19.8% were HIV+, of which 47.2% were intravenous drug users and 20.8% homosexuals. There was a 75.4% cure rate, 4.9% who left treatment and 16.1% lost during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: During the study period a progressive increase in the proportion of cases with HIV infection was observed. Control and follow-up of Tuberculosis was more difficult in these patients.