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Background: Poor living conditions promote the spread of communicable diseases. It happened with Tuberculosis (TB) and is happening with COVID-19. Due to its dynamic nature, this group of diseases must be studied in the context of the social determinants of health., Aim: To describe the epidemiological behavior of COVID-19 in response to the control strategies implemented by the Chilean Ministry of Health and its similarities with the socio-economic distribution of TB in the Metropolitan Region (MR) of Chile., Material and Methods: The 2018 Tuberculosis rates and average income of districts belonging to the MR were described, as well as the incidence rates of COVID-19. A Pearson correlation analysis was applied between the rates of both diseases, to assess similarities in the epidemiological distribution patterns., Results: The RM accounts for over 50% of the total national cases of COVID-19. After the implementation of selective quarantines, only four districts in the RM managed to control the outbreak (those with the highest incomes). In the rest, a clear increase in cases was observed. The districts with the highest increase in cases were the most disadvantaged, and those with the highest TB rates during 2018, with a correlation coefficient of 0.6., Conclusions: Control policies cannot deepen health inequalities. If vulnerable groups, as well as the factors that determine their health, are not properly identified, the consequences of the current pandemic could be even more devastating.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB)/HIV coinfection has a high mortality rate., Aim: To describe socio-epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis (TB)-HIV coinfection, and aspects associated with its prevalence, from 2005 to 2018., Material and Methods: Analysis of the registry of the tuberculosis control and elimination program of three public health services of metropolitan Santiago. The variables considered were: TB/HIV coinfection, age, sex, location of tuberculosis, bacteriological confirmation, incarceration, commune of residence, country of origin and effectiveness of the tuberculosis therapy., Results: We analyzed 7507 TB cases, of whom 12% corresponded to cases of coinfection. The number of coinfections doubled in the last 6 years. In 2018, 45% of coinfection cases occurred in migrants. Of the total cases evaluated, 53% were successfully treated and 28% died., Conclusions: The remarkable increase in TB/HIV coinfection, urgently demands new prevention and control strategies, aimed at the most vulnerable groups.