Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in ChileResearch in context

Summary: Background: Concurrent tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 increases the risk of mortality; however, most studies have focused primarily on short-term outcomes. We assessed the short and long-term impact of TB and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection on all-cause mortality. Methods: We conducted a retrospect...

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Main Authors: Vargas-García Salvador, Eduardo A. Undurraga, Nadia Escobar, Christian García, Natalia Vergara, María Elvira Balcells
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:The Lancet Regional Health. Americas
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X25001292
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author Vargas-García Salvador
Eduardo A. Undurraga
Nadia Escobar
Christian García
Natalia Vergara
María Elvira Balcells
author_facet Vargas-García Salvador
Eduardo A. Undurraga
Nadia Escobar
Christian García
Natalia Vergara
María Elvira Balcells
author_sort Vargas-García Salvador
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: Concurrent tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 increases the risk of mortality; however, most studies have focused primarily on short-term outcomes. We assessed the short and long-term impact of TB and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection on all-cause mortality. Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide cohort study in Chile, including adults diagnosed with active TB from January 1st, 2020, to December 31st, 2021, with follow-up until November 30th, 2022. SARS-CoV-2 coinfection was defined as occurring from 30 days before to six months after TB diagnosis. Short-term mortality was defined as death within 90 days of TB or TB/SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, and long-term mortality as death occurring after 90 days. We used a time-dependent Cox survival analysis, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and relevant comorbidities including HIV, diabetes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug-resistance status. Findings: The cohort included 3721 adults (median age: 47 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 32–61); of whom 63·4% were male, and 79·4% had pulmonary TB. The median follow-up was 586 days (IQR: 401–820), with 680 deaths (18·3%) recorded. A SARS-CoV-2 coinfection was identified in 393 individuals (10·5%); the mortality in this group was higher in short-term (≤90 days: 14·5% vs. 11·4%) and long-term (>90 days: 11·5% vs. 5·9%) compared to TB alone. Coinfection increased the risk of all-cause mortality during the entire follow-up (aHR [adjusted Hazard Ratio]: 2·8, 95% CI: 2·26–3·47), over three-fold in the short-term (aHR 3·4, 95% CI: 2·57–4·51) and nearly two-fold in the long-term (aHR: 1·72, 95% CI: 1·18–2·52). Excess mortality persisted beyond the first year (aHR: 2·04, 95% CI: 1·09–3·82). SARS-CoV-2 vaccination reduced mortality risk in the TB cohort by 35% (95% CI: 19–46%). Interpretation: Tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection was associated with significantly increased all-cause mortality in both the short and long-term, with elevated risk persisting beyond TB treatment completion. These findings highlight the need for continued post-treatment follow-up and prioritization of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among individuals with TB. Funding: ANID-FONDECYT, Chile, and CONAHCYT, Mexico.
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spelling doaj-art-d9eb0315c5e94d098cf08bffb61a28b02025-08-20T03:53:13ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Americas2667-193X2025-06-014610111910.1016/j.lana.2025.101119Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in ChileResearch in contextVargas-García Salvador0Eduardo A. Undurraga1Nadia Escobar2Christian García3Natalia Vergara4María Elvira Balcells5Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, ChileEscuela de Gobierno, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile; Research Center for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (CIGIDEN), ChileNational Tuberculosis Control and Elimination Program, Ministry of Health, ChileDepartment of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, ChileDepartment of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, ChileDepartment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile; Corresponding author.Summary: Background: Concurrent tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 increases the risk of mortality; however, most studies have focused primarily on short-term outcomes. We assessed the short and long-term impact of TB and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection on all-cause mortality. Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide cohort study in Chile, including adults diagnosed with active TB from January 1st, 2020, to December 31st, 2021, with follow-up until November 30th, 2022. SARS-CoV-2 coinfection was defined as occurring from 30 days before to six months after TB diagnosis. Short-term mortality was defined as death within 90 days of TB or TB/SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, and long-term mortality as death occurring after 90 days. We used a time-dependent Cox survival analysis, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and relevant comorbidities including HIV, diabetes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug-resistance status. Findings: The cohort included 3721 adults (median age: 47 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 32–61); of whom 63·4% were male, and 79·4% had pulmonary TB. The median follow-up was 586 days (IQR: 401–820), with 680 deaths (18·3%) recorded. A SARS-CoV-2 coinfection was identified in 393 individuals (10·5%); the mortality in this group was higher in short-term (≤90 days: 14·5% vs. 11·4%) and long-term (>90 days: 11·5% vs. 5·9%) compared to TB alone. Coinfection increased the risk of all-cause mortality during the entire follow-up (aHR [adjusted Hazard Ratio]: 2·8, 95% CI: 2·26–3·47), over three-fold in the short-term (aHR 3·4, 95% CI: 2·57–4·51) and nearly two-fold in the long-term (aHR: 1·72, 95% CI: 1·18–2·52). Excess mortality persisted beyond the first year (aHR: 2·04, 95% CI: 1·09–3·82). SARS-CoV-2 vaccination reduced mortality risk in the TB cohort by 35% (95% CI: 19–46%). Interpretation: Tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection was associated with significantly increased all-cause mortality in both the short and long-term, with elevated risk persisting beyond TB treatment completion. These findings highlight the need for continued post-treatment follow-up and prioritization of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among individuals with TB. Funding: ANID-FONDECYT, Chile, and CONAHCYT, Mexico.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X25001292Mycobacterium tuberculosisTuberculosisCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2Global healthCohort
spellingShingle Vargas-García Salvador
Eduardo A. Undurraga
Nadia Escobar
Christian García
Natalia Vergara
María Elvira Balcells
Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in ChileResearch in context
The Lancet Regional Health. Americas
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Global health
Cohort
title Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in ChileResearch in context
title_full Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in ChileResearch in context
title_fullStr Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in ChileResearch in context
title_full_unstemmed Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in ChileResearch in context
title_short Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in ChileResearch in context
title_sort short and long term increased risk of all cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to sars cov 2 infection a time dependent survival analysis in chileresearch in context
topic Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Global health
Cohort
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X25001292
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