Global epidemiology of tuberculosis, a comparative study of the six WHO regions in 2018

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global emergency and is one of the major threats to human and public health, more than 60 years of its medical treatment, as well as the economic and social development of societies. More than 2 billion individuals are infected with mycobacterium, causing the morbidity and mortality of 10 and 2 million individuals, respectively. The current study was accomplished aiming to investigate the TB disease status and indicators of achieving the goal of ending the TB epidemics by 2035. Methods: This was a comparative study conducted in a library and the main source of information used included the reports published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its regional organizations profile, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Bank Group (WBG), and studies. Results: The highest incidence rate was in Africa and South-East Asia, with the lowest incidence in the Americas and Europe regions. In the Eastern Mediterranean region, the incidence of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) was about 10% higher than in other areas. The highest success rate of TB treatment was in the Western Pacific region and the lowest in the United States and Europe. Conclusion: Over 1 billion US dollars have been spent in funding for the fight against TB. Health policymakers, especially in the Middle Eastern region, should pay particular attention to allocating national and local resources to this disease and rely less on international and humanitarian resources. In order to achieve the goal of ending the TB epidemic END-TB 2035, in addition to addressing the economic and social well-being of citizens, it is essential to focus on early detection and diagnosis of disease and effective treatment with strategy implementation [Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS)].

Keywords: Global Epidemiology, Tuberculosis, Comparative Study