[Tuberculosis and comorbidities in urban areas in Argentina. A gender and age perspective]

The dynamics of tuberculosis transmission model with different genders

The dynamics of tuberculosis transmission model with different genders are to be established and studied. The basic regeneration numbers R 0 = R F + R M are to be defined, where R F and R M to be the basic reproduction number of tuberculosis transmission in female and male populations, respectively. The existence and global stability of the disease-free equilibrium was discussed when R 0 < 1 . The global dynamic behaviours of the corresponding limit system under some conditions are to be provided, including the existence, uniqueness, and global stability of the disease-free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium. The numerical simulation shows that the endemic equilibrium may be unique and stable when R 0 > 1 , and the system will undergo Hopf bifurcation based on some parameter values. Finally, we applied this model to analyse the transmission of tuberculosis in China, estimated the incidence of tuberculosis in China in 2035, and gave the conclusion that controlling the incidence of tuberculosis in male populations could better reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in China.

A nomogram for predicting mortality of patients initially diagnosed with primary pulmonary tuberculosis in Hunan province, China: a retrospective study

Objective

According to the Global Tuberculosis Report for three consecutive years, tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading infectious killer. Primary pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) leads to the highest mortality among TB diseases. Regretfully, no previous studies targeted the PTB of a specific type or in a specific course, so models established in previous studies cannot be accurately feasible for clinical treatments. This study aimed to construct a nomogram prognostic model to quickly recognize death-related risk factors in patients initially diagnosed with PTB to intervene and treat high-risk patients as early as possible in the clinic to reduce mortality.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1,809 in-hospital patients initially diagnosed with primary PTB at Hunan Chest Hospital from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors. A nomogram prognostic model for mortality prediction was constructed using R software and was validated using a validation set.

Results

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that drinking, hepatitis B virus (HBV), body mass index (BMI), age, albumin (ALB), and hemoglobin (Hb) were six independent predictors of death in in-hospital patients initially diagnosed with primary PTB. Based on these predictors, a nomogram prognostic model was established with high prediction accuracy, of which the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.881 (95% confidence interval [Cl]: 0.777-0.847), the sensitivity was 84.7%, and the specificity was 77.7%.Internal and external validations confirmed that the constructed model fit the real situation well.

Conclusion

The constructed nomogram prognostic model can recognize risk factors and accurately predict the mortality of patients initially diagnosed with primary PTB. This is expected to guide early clinical intervention and treatment for high-risk patients.

Epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in Iraq during 2011-2018

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most progressive infectious diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The pathogen is the first cause of mortality linked to a single pathogen worldwide, especially in poor and developing countries.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to estimate incidence rate (IR) of TB in Iraq during a period of eight years (2011-2018). TB data were extracted from the computer system of the National Specialized Center for Chest and Respiratory Diseases in Baghdad.

RESULTS

During 2011-2018, 65,102 confirmed TB cases were reported in Iraq; 39,640 pulmonary TB (PTB) and 25,462 extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB). The average IR (case/100,000 inhabitants) of TB was 23.4 (14.2 for PTB and 9.1 for EPTB). Annual rate of TB cases showed a gradual decline over years (from 29.2 in 2011 to 18.6 in 2018). The decline in IR was more pronounced in PTB than EPTB. However PTB/EPTB ratio showed a gradual decreasing over years (from 2.04 in 2011 to 1.56 in 2018). GIS-mapping revealed that PTB and EPTB IRs show variations between the 18 governorates of Iraq. Most of the recorded PTB cases were new (average: 90.5%), followed by relapse cases (average: 7.9%). Among the reported PTB cases, percentage of males was greater than females (average: 52.1 vs. 47.9%), whereas an opposite trend was observed in EPTB (42.9 vs. 57.1%). The frequency distribution of PTB and EPTB varied between age groups, and lowest average frequency was recorded in age groups 1-4 and 5-14 year.

CONCLUSIONS

TB is still a public health threat, and although a declining trend in incidence was depicted over the years 2011-2018, the disease is still out of control in Iraq, and more investments of resource are necessitated to eliminate the disease. In this context, EPTB and PTB relapse need a recognized attention.

Investigating the Relationship between Knowledge and Hepatotoxic Effects with Medication Adherence of TB Patients in Banyumas Regency, Indonesia

Tuberculosis (TB) still remains the burden in Indonesia. One of the factors that may influence the treatment success of TB is patient's adherence. However, the hepatotoxicity of the TB medicine may decrease the patient's adherence. Our study's aim is to investigate the relationship between the patient's knowledge and the hepatotoxicity with medication adherence of TB patients in Banyumas Regency. This study was conducted at one Community Lung Health Center and two hospitals in Banyumas Regency, Purwokerto, Center of Java, Indonesia. The respondents were 91 TB patients with hepatotoxicity characterized by an increased aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The level of the patients' knowledge about the hepatotoxicity effect was determined using a questionnaire. The patients' adherence was determined using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale -5 (MARS) questionnaire and pill count methods. Most of the patients were male (53.8%), the age was in the range of 18-29 years old (3.5%), they have no smoking history (59.3%), and their last education majorly was senior high school (46.2%). Most TB patients had poor knowledge (47.3%) and the hepatotoxic effect often appeared in grade 1 (61.5%). The TB patients with a good and moderate level of knowledge were 17.6% and 35.2%, respectively. The TB patients with moderate and severe hepatotoxicity were 39.4% and 1.1%, respectively. The measurement of the level of respondents' adherence using MARS-5 showed that 51.6% of patients had good adherence. We determined the rest of the drug-using pill count method, which resulted in 62.6% of patients adhering to taking antituberculosis drugs. TB patients with a sufficient knowledge and those with mild hepatotoxicity show the higher adherence (p < 0.001). There is a significant relationship between a high level of the patient's knowledge about hepatotoxicity effect, less severity of the hepatotoxic effect, and increased patient adherence in taking the medication.

Tuberculosis forecasting and temporal trends by sex and age in a high endemic city in northeastern Brazil: where were we before the Covid-19 pandemic?

Background

The aim of this study was to describe the temporal trend of tuberculosis cases according to sex and age group and evidence the level of disease before the Covid-19 pandemic in a TB high endemic city.

Methods

This was a time series study carried out in a city in northeast Brazil. The population was composed of cases of tuberculosis, excluding those with HIV-positive status, reported between the years 2002 and 2018. An exploratory analysis of the monthly rates of tuberculosis detection, smoothed according to sex and age group, was performed. Subsequently, the progression of the trend and prediction of the disease were also characterized according to these aspects. For the trends forecast, the seasonal autoregressive linear integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and the usual Box-Jenkins method were used to choose the most appropriate models.

Results

A total of 1620 cases of tuberculosis were reported, with an incidence of 49.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in men and 34.0 per 100,000 in women. Regarding the incidence for both sexes, there was a decreasing trend, which was similar for age. Evidence resulting from the application of the time series shows a decreasing trend in the years 2002–2018, with a trend of stability.

Conclusions

The study evidenced a decreasing trend in tuberculosis, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, for both sex and age; however, in a step really slow from that recommended by the World Health Organization. According to the results, the disease would have achieved a level of stability in the city next years, however it might have been aggravated by the pandemic. These findings are relevant to evidence the serious behavior and trends of TB in a high endemic scenario considering a context prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The prevalence and risks of major comorbidities among inpatients with pulmonary tuberculosis in China from a gender and age perspective: a large-scale multicenter observational study

In clinical practice, PTB patients have concurrent many types of comorbidities such as pneumonia, liver disorder, diabetes mellitus, hematological disorder, and malnutrition. Detecting and treating specific comorbidities and preventing their development are important for PTB patients. However, the prevalence of most comorbid conditions in patients with PTB is not well described. We conducted a large-scale, multicenter, observational study to elucidate and illustrate the prevalence rates of major comorbidities in inpatients at 21 hospitals in China. The 19 specific comorbidities were selected for analysis in this patient cohort, and stratified the inpatient cohort according to age and gender. A total of 355,929 PTB inpatients were included, with a male:female ratio of 1.98 and the proportion of ≥ 65 years PTB inpatients was the most. Approximately 70% of PTB inpatients had at least one defined type of comorbidity. The prevalence of 19 specific comorbidities in inpatients with PTB was analyzed, with pneumonia being the most common comorbidity. The prevalence of most comorbidities was higher in males with PTB except thyroid disorders, mental health disorders, etc. The prevalence of defined most comorbidities in patients with PTB tended to increase with increasing age, although some specific comorbidities tended to increase initially then decrease with increasing age. Our study describes multiple clinically important comorbidities among PTB inpatients, and their prevalence between different gender and age groups. The results will enhance the clinical aptitude of physicians who treat patients with PTB to recognize, diagnose, and treat PTB comorbidities early.

Is It Necessary to Perform the Second Surgery Stage of Anterior Debridement in the Treatment of Spinal Tuberculosis?

OBJECTIVE

In this retrospective comparative study, the efficacy and clinical outcomes of long posterior instrumentation, with or without laminectomy, were evaluated and the necessity of the second stage of anterior debridement in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis (TB) was discussed.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 41 patients who were diagnosed with spinal TB between January 2010 and June 2016. A total of 18 patients had received long posterior instrumentation, with or without laminectomy (group A), whereas the other 23 patients had posterior instrumentation plus anterior debridement and autogenous bone grafting (group B). The surgical information, clinical effectiveness, laboratory tests, and imaging results were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

One patient in group B died. Sinus drainage and incomplete bone fusion were discovered 1 year postoperatively. TB symptoms were significantly improved after surgery compared with those before surgery (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the treatment efficacy between the 2 groups at the final follow-ups (P > 0.05). Compared with those of group B, the surgical time, bed-rest time, and hospitalization time of group A were all significantly shorter (P < 0.05), whereas the times before abscesses disappeared, bone graft fusion, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate returning to normal were all significantly longer (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Single-stage long posterior instrumentation, with or without laminectomy, is a safe, effective, and feasible method for the treatment of spinal TB. The second stage of anterior debridement surgery may not be necessary for every spinal TB treatment.