Haematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in PLHIV: a retrospective cohort study in Gujarat, India

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant health challenge among people living with HIV (PLHIV), underscoring the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Hematological parameters have emerged as potential markers for predicting and monitoring TB disease. This study aimed to...

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Main Authors: Yogesh M, Roshni Vamja, Parth Anilbhai Parmar, Naresh Makwana, R Naveen Shyam Sundar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10625-y
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author Yogesh M
Roshni Vamja
Parth Anilbhai Parmar
Naresh Makwana
R Naveen Shyam Sundar
author_facet Yogesh M
Roshni Vamja
Parth Anilbhai Parmar
Naresh Makwana
R Naveen Shyam Sundar
author_sort Yogesh M
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant health challenge among people living with HIV (PLHIV), underscoring the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Hematological parameters have emerged as potential markers for predicting and monitoring TB disease. This study aimed to assess the utility of hematological parameters in predicting TB disease among PLHIV. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted at an Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre in Gujarat, India, including PLHIV registered between January 2018 and March 2024. Hematological parameters, including hemoglobin levels, platelet counts, white blood cell differentials, and derived ratios (monocyte-lymphocyte ratio [MLR] and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]), were extracted from medical records. TB diagnosis was based on bacteriological confirmation or clinical criteria. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to assess the association between hematological parameters and TB disease, adjusting for potential confounders. Results Among 810 PLHIV, 202 (25%) had TB disease. PLHIV with TB had a higher prevalence of anemia (91.6% vs. 60.0%, p < 0.001), leucocytosis (16.3% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.0004), and neutrophilia (25.2% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.0001) compared to those without TB. A higher MLR ratio (> 0.23) was associated with an increased risk of TB (HR: 5.44, 95% CI: 3.94–7.50, p < 0.001), independent of anemia. Anemia was also an independent predictor of TB (HR: 4.37, 95% CI: 2.72–7.02, p < 0.001). Conclusions Hematological parameters, particularly MLR ratio and anemia status, showed strong associations with TB disease among PLHIV. An MLR > 0.23 was associated with a 5.44-fold increased risk of TB, while anemia increased the risk by 4.37-fold. These readily available and cost-effective markers could enhance early TB detection and risk stratification in PLHIV, especially in resource-limited settings. Integration of these parameters into existing screening protocols may improve targeted interventions and patient outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-e4394a544a77452eb8b30d81a597a2452025-08-20T02:51:23ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-02-0125111210.1186/s12879-025-10625-yHaematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in PLHIV: a retrospective cohort study in Gujarat, IndiaYogesh M0Roshni Vamja1Parth Anilbhai Parmar2Naresh Makwana3R Naveen Shyam Sundar4Department of Community Medicine, Shri M P Shah Government Medical CollegeDepartment of Community Medicine, Shri M P Shah Government Medical CollegeDepartment of Community Medicine, Shri M P Shah Government Medical CollegeDepartment of Community Medicine, Shri M P Shah Government Medical CollegeDepartment of Community Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant health challenge among people living with HIV (PLHIV), underscoring the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Hematological parameters have emerged as potential markers for predicting and monitoring TB disease. This study aimed to assess the utility of hematological parameters in predicting TB disease among PLHIV. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted at an Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre in Gujarat, India, including PLHIV registered between January 2018 and March 2024. Hematological parameters, including hemoglobin levels, platelet counts, white blood cell differentials, and derived ratios (monocyte-lymphocyte ratio [MLR] and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]), were extracted from medical records. TB diagnosis was based on bacteriological confirmation or clinical criteria. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to assess the association between hematological parameters and TB disease, adjusting for potential confounders. Results Among 810 PLHIV, 202 (25%) had TB disease. PLHIV with TB had a higher prevalence of anemia (91.6% vs. 60.0%, p < 0.001), leucocytosis (16.3% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.0004), and neutrophilia (25.2% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.0001) compared to those without TB. A higher MLR ratio (> 0.23) was associated with an increased risk of TB (HR: 5.44, 95% CI: 3.94–7.50, p < 0.001), independent of anemia. Anemia was also an independent predictor of TB (HR: 4.37, 95% CI: 2.72–7.02, p < 0.001). Conclusions Hematological parameters, particularly MLR ratio and anemia status, showed strong associations with TB disease among PLHIV. An MLR > 0.23 was associated with a 5.44-fold increased risk of TB, while anemia increased the risk by 4.37-fold. These readily available and cost-effective markers could enhance early TB detection and risk stratification in PLHIV, especially in resource-limited settings. Integration of these parameters into existing screening protocols may improve targeted interventions and patient outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10625-yTuberculosisHIVMonocyte-to-Lymphocyte RatioAnemiaHematological ParametersBiomarkers
spellingShingle Yogesh M
Roshni Vamja
Parth Anilbhai Parmar
Naresh Makwana
R Naveen Shyam Sundar
Haematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in PLHIV: a retrospective cohort study in Gujarat, India
BMC Infectious Diseases
Tuberculosis
HIV
Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio
Anemia
Hematological Parameters
Biomarkers
title Haematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in PLHIV: a retrospective cohort study in Gujarat, India
title_full Haematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in PLHIV: a retrospective cohort study in Gujarat, India
title_fullStr Haematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in PLHIV: a retrospective cohort study in Gujarat, India
title_full_unstemmed Haematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in PLHIV: a retrospective cohort study in Gujarat, India
title_short Haematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in PLHIV: a retrospective cohort study in Gujarat, India
title_sort haematological markers as predictive tools for tuberculosis in plhiv a retrospective cohort study in gujarat india
topic Tuberculosis
HIV
Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio
Anemia
Hematological Parameters
Biomarkers
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10625-y
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