Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common opportunistic infection experienced by HIV patients that can
affect the success of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. This study aimed to determine the association between tuberculosis
infection and loss to follow-up (LTFU) among HIV patients after ARV therapy initiation. Methods: This retrospective
cohort study was conducted by observing HIV patients in Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Indonesia who were diagnosed in 2015 for 39 months based on medical records data. The number of samples that met the inclusion and
exclusion criteria was 170 patients. Kaplan Meier and Cox Regression were the statistical tests used to analyze data
in this study. Results: The probability of HIV patients to retain in ARV therapy for 39 months was 90% among HIV
co-infected TB patients and 84% among HIV without TB co-infection. However, no significant difference was found
(p-value = 0.41). Most of the incidence of LTFU in both groups occurred in the first year after ARV initiation. Cox
Regression analysis showed that TB infection did not have a significant relationship with the incidence of LTFU ARV
therapy (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.18 – 2.08; p-value = 0.44). Conclusion: This study found that TB infection did not have a
significant association with LTFU after ARV initiation. However, most of LTFU in both groups (the co-infection group
and without TB co-infection) occurred in the first year of ARV therapy. Providing intensive counseling in the initial
phase could increase the commitment of HIV patients for staying in ARV therapy.