People with HIV in South Africa face a ten times higher risk of developing tuberculosis while interrupting antiretroviral therapy compared to periods of continuous treatment, according to provincial health data presented at the AIDS 2026 conference. Even after patients resume medication and achieve viral suppression, their tuberculosis risk remains elevated by 50%.
The Impact of Treatment Interruptions on Tuberculosis Risk
Data shared by Haroon Moolla from the University of Cape Town reveals the scale of treatment disruptions in the Western Cape. Out of nearly 150,000 adults who started antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2017 and 2024, 60% had interrupted their treatment at least once by the end of the study period, according to findings reported by aidsmap.
Researchers tracked participants from the moment they initiated HIV treatment until their last recorded prescription, death, or first tuberculosis episode. The cohort comprised predominantly women at 68%, with a median age of 32 years at the start of therapy. The analysis defined treatment interruption as going 28 days or more without medication in hand.
Did you know? While treatment interruptions made up only a fifth of the total follow-up time in the Western Cape cohort, they accounted for over half of all first tuberculosis episodes recorded during the study.
Persistent Vulnerability After Viral Suppression
The danger does not end immediately when a patient returns to the clinic. Moolla’s presentation at AIDS 2026 highlighted that the biological impact of stopping therapy lingers. Even after individuals resume their regimen and successfully suppress the virus, their vulnerability to developing tuberculosis stays 50% higher than those who maintained continuous therapy without interruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a treatment interruption defined in this study?
Researchers classified an interruption as having no medication in hand for a period of 28 days or longer.
Does the risk of tuberculosis drop immediately after restarting ART?
No. Even after patients resume treatment and achieve viral suppression, their risk of developing tuberculosis remains 50% higher than those who never interrupted therapy.
Who conducted the analysis presented at AIDS 2026?
Haroon Moolla from the University of Cape Town presented the findings, utilizing provincial health data from the Western Cape in South Africa.
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