What is it about?

This comprehensive study tracks tuberculosis (TB) trends from 1990 to 2021, analyzing progress toward the WHO's 2020 milestones for reducing TB mortality and incidence across various age groups globally. Despite efforts, the study found that the world did not meet the first interim goals of the WHO End TB Strategy by 2020. Notably, TB incidence decreased overall, but the decline was uneven across age groups, with older adults showing the slowest progress. The study emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions to improve outcomes for older age groups and highlights the impact of key risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and diabetes on TB mortality.

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Why is it important?

This research is the first global, systematic, age-specific examination of progress toward the WHO's 2020 TB milestones. It reveals unequal progress across age groups and identifies specific areas where interventions can be targeted more effectively, especially among older adults. This age-focused analysis provides valuable insights for refining national TB programs and achieving future WHO targets, making it a significant contribution to TB control efforts worldwide.

Perspectives

This publication represents a significant stride in understanding the global TB epidemic through the lens of age-specific trends and interventions. My involvement in this work has deepened my appreciation for the complexity of TB control and the critical need for age-targeted strategies. The findings underscore the necessity of addressing risk factors and leveraging successful strategies from countries that have met their milestones. It's a call to action for more nuanced and effective global health responses to TB, aiming for a future where the WHO's ambitious targets are within reach.

Mr Ferry Efendi
Universitas Airlangga

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Global, regional, and national age-specific progress towards the 2020 milestones of the WHO End TB Strategy: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, March 2024, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(24)00007-0.
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