BACKGROUND: A diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) does not necessarily mean that the disease will be treated successfully, as death still occurs among those who are diagnosed by health services. The study aimed to identify the TB patients who died precociously due to the disease and associated factors in southern Brazil. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, where all deaths from TB were gathered, including cases of TB/HIV coinfection (ICD A15.0-A15.9 and ICD B20.0), which occurred between 2008 and 2015 in southern Brazil. After bivariate analysis, techniques for survival analysis were applied, including the Kaplan-Meier test and Cox’s regression, from which the mean, median and CI95% of survival (in days) were estimated; the hazard ratio (HR) was obtained and the associated causative factors were identified. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients were analysed: 83 (58%) of them had a diagnosis of TB (ICD A15.0 to A19) and 60 (42%) were diagnosed with TB/HIV (ICD B20.0) in basic death cause. The first group (only TB) had a median survival of 21 days, and the second group (TB/HIV) had a median survival of 34 days; however, the difference was not statistically significant. The median survival for the whole sample was 23 days; 82 (57.3%) of the patients died within 30 days after diagnosis, and 101 (71.3%) died within 60 days after diagnosis (minimum survival 2 day; maximum 349 days; standard deviation (SD) = 69.5 and mean = 52.1 days). Additionally, the alcohol use alcohol use (HR=1.65, CI95%=1.03-2.68) and other comorbidities (HR=1.79, CI95%=1.13 - 2.84) were related precocious deaths. CONCLUSION: Most of the deaths occurred precociously (within two or one months), which indicates that the diagnosis was made too late, when the disease was already at an advanced stage. The use of alcohol and other comorbidities were related with precocious deaths. Although diagnosis and treatment are free in Brazil and the patients had received a diagnosis, they died. Early, sensitive diagnosis, with social support and comprehensive care might reduce early mortality among patients with addiction problems.