The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in India decreased by 0.5% between 2015 and 2020, although it did not reach the 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) END-TB milestone. Published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, new global research indicates that this trend is indicative of a larger problem in the global fight against tuberculosis and reaching the high standards established by the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy.
By 2030, compared to 2015 data, the WHO’s End TB Strategy seeks to reduce TB-related fatalities by 90% and the incidence rate by 80%. Globally, the 2020 targets—which call for a 35% decrease in fatalities and a 20% decrease in TB incidence—remain largely unachieved.
The WHO’s landmark prediction of 171 cases per lakh people was greatly surpassed by the predicted 213 cases per lakh cases of tuberculosis in India in 2020. Comparably, the number of deaths in India attributable to tuberculosis (TB) surpassed the mortality milestone; estimates ranged from 3.5 to 5 lakh, when the projected range was between 2.7 and 3.2 lakh.
Although there has been considerable progress in the last ten years in lowering the TB burden, the international community was unable to meet the first intermediate targets of the End TB Strategy by 2020. Different age groups experienced the decline at different rates; persons 50 years of age and older had the slowest rate of loss.
Only 15 of the 204 nations examined—the majority of which were in sub-Saharan Africa—met the 2020 TB incidence milestone. Novel case-finding interventions were used in countries such as Nigeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Kenya, which resulted in decreased incidence rates. In certain areas, better medicine coverage for HIV patients also contributed.
Drug resistance is still a major problem that affects many nations’ death rates. Although treatment regimens recommended by the WHO have showed promise in combating drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), more widespread implementation and accessibility are needed.
With few empirical data available, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB burdens is a developing issue. Models indicate that pandemic disruptions may lead to a rise in tuberculosis deaths, underscoring the necessity for ongoing research and well-planned interventions.
To accomplish the End TB targets, it is imperative to develop safer and more effective medicines, focus on high-risk age groups, and enhance treatment adherence through social protection programs. For long-term success, integrated strategies that incorporate community-based screening, contact tracking, and preventive initiatives are essential.
The Global Burden Disease (GBD) study sheds important light on the intricate processes underlying the global TB burden. To overcome the obstacles and accomplish the WHO’s End TB goals, cooperation, research, and the application of evidence-based strategies are essential.
