Table 4 Meta-analysis of associated factors and publication bias examination of 19 studies included in the risk factor meta-analysis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection in China

CD4⁺ T cell count ≤ 200/µl

10

3.062 (1.999, 4.125)

5.65

P < 0.05

P < 0.001

90.3

Smoking

8

1.581 (1.299, 1.864)

10.96

P < 0.05

P = 0.29

17.7

Intravenous drug use

5

1.862 (1.521, 2.202)

10.72

P < 0.05

P = 0.101

48.5

Unemployment

5

1.720 (1.428, 2.013)

11.54

P < 0.05

P = 0.527

0

Male sex

5

1.623 (1.395, 1.850)

13.99

P < 0.05

P = 0.753

0

Senior citizen status

4

1.517 (1.319, 1.714)

15.06

P < 0.05

P = 0.879

0

Advanced WHO stage

4

2.496 (1.539, 3.452)

5.12

P < 0.05

P = 0.014

71.6

Low family income

3

1.827 (–1.310, 4.965)

1.14

P = 0.254

P = 0.016

82.7

Low level of education

3

1.737 (1.205, 2.268)

6.41

P < 0.05

P = 0.446

0

Presence of other opportunistic infections

3

2.191 (1.666, 2.716)

8.17

P < 0.05

P = 0.452

0

History of TB

3

1.669 (0.674, 2.663)

3.29

P = 0.001

P = 0.019

74.7

Engagement in commercial sex

3

2.414 (1.855, 2.972)

8.47

P < 0.05

P = 0.625

0

Patients aged 30–45 years

2

1.377 (1.037, 1.717)

7.93

P < 0.05

P = 0.125

57.6

Long history of HIV

2

2.411 (1.766, 3.056)

7.32

P < 0.05

P = 0.309

3.2

BCG vaccination history

7

0.503 (0.246, 0.759)

3.84

P < 0.05

P < 0.001

90.1