Increasing prevalence of TB-COVID Co-infection tied to increased mortality: Study
Researchers have found that tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 co-infection remains a significant global health concern, with limited evidence on its epidemiology and treatment outcomes. A recent systematic review aimed to investigate the prevalence, fatality rates, and treatment outcomes of TB-COVID co-infection to address this knowledge gap. TB and COVID-19, both highly infectious diseases, present significant challenges, especially in low/middle-income countries with limited medical resources. TB-COVID co-infection poses additional complexities, impacting regions with varying TB burdens.
This study was published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases by Quan Wang and colleagues. The systematic review analyzed data from 17 studies across 38 countries or regions, spanning both high and low TB prevalence areas. Prevalence estimates of TB-COVID co-infection ranged from approximately 0.02% in California, USA, to 0.06% in West Cape Province, South Africa.
• Treatment approaches for TB-COVID co-infection have seen minimal evolution since 2021, typically involving a combination of recommended TB regimens and standard COVID-19 treatment.
• Co-infected individuals faced increased risks of hospitalization, extended recovery periods, and higher mortality rates compared to those with single COVID-19 infections.
• The pooled fatality rate among co-infected patients was 7.1%, slightly lower than previous estimates, with in-hospital co-infected patients facing a mean fatality rate of 11.4%.
• However, the pooled relative risk of in-hospital fatality for TB-COVID patients versus single COVID patients was 0.8, suggesting a slightly lower risk among co-infected individuals.
The predominant treatment approach for TB-COVID co-infection involves a combination of recommended TB regimens and standard COVID-19 treatment. However, this approach has seen minimal changes since 2021.
Individuals with TB-COVID co-infection are at heightened risk of adverse outcomes, including hospitalization, extended recovery periods, and accelerated mortality. Limited information exists on the post-COVID-19 condition of co-infected patients, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
Despite a gradual decrease in fatality rates, TB-COVID co-infection remains a significant global health challenge. Urgent global collaboration is needed to address the complex challenges posed by this co-infection, particularly in countries with limited medical resources.
Reference:
Wang Q, Cao Y, Liu X, Fu Y, Zhang J, Zhang Y, et al. (2024) Systematic review and meta-analysis of Tuberculosis and COVID-19 Co-infection: Prevalence, fatality, and treatment considerations. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 18(5): e0012136. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012136
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