@article {Pimpin1382, author = {L. Pimpin and L.N. Drumright and M.E. Kruijshaar and I. Abubakar and B. Rice and V. Delpech and V. Hollo and A. Amato-Gauci and D. Manissero and C. K{\"o}dm{\"o}n}, title = {Tuberculosis and HIV co-infection in European Union and European Economic Area countries}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {1382--1392}, year = {2011}, doi = {10.1183/09031936.00198410}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {In order to ensure the availability of resources for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV management and control, it is imperative that countries monitor and plan for co-infection in order to identify, treat and prevent TB{\textendash}HIV co-infection, thereby reducing TB burden and increasing the years of healthy life of people living with HIV. A systematic review was undertaken to determine the burden of TB{\textendash}HIV infection in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). Data on the burden of HIV infection in TB patients and risk factors for TB{\textendash}HIV co-infection in the EU/EEA were extracted from studies that collected information in 1996 and later, regardless of the year of initiation of data collection, and a narrative synthesis presented. The proportion of HIV-co-infected TB patients varied from 0 to 15\%. Western and eastern countries had higher levels and increasing trends of infection over time compared with central EU/EEA countries. Groups at higher risk of TB{\textendash}HIV co-infection were males, young adults, foreign-born persons, the homeless, injecting drug users and prisoners. Further research is needed into the burden and associated risk factors of co-infection in Europe, to help plan effective control measures. Increased HIV testing of TB patients and targeted and informed strategies for control and prevention could help curb the co-infection epidemic.}, issn = {0903-1936}, URL = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/6/1382}, eprint = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/6/1382.full.pdf}, journal = {European Respiratory Journal} }