A Systematic Study and Meta-Analysis of Tuberculosis Infection Prevalence in India

Prabhakar Bhushan  Mishra; Rajendra Prasad  Jaiswal; Bharat  Bhushan

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i12.1509

Authors

Prabhakar Bhushan Mishra Medical Officer, Department of General Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India
Rajendra Prasad Jaiswal Medical Officer, Department of General Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India
Bharat Bhushan Professor, Department of General Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i12.1509

Keywords:

Systematic Review, Tuberculosis, Tuberculin Skin Test, Interferon Gamma Release Assay, TB infection

Abstract

Background and objectives: O The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to calculate the prevalence of TBI in India by risk categories, sociodemographic profile, and geographic location.

Methods: Through a comprehensive analysis, this study investigated the prevalence of tuberculosis infection (TBI) in India between 2013 and 2022. Following the recommendations in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), 70 papers were examined using databases such as Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. The holistic method provided a detailed picture of the prevalence of TBI in India by using a variety of languages and study settings.

Results:70 research, including approximately 40 prevalence studies and approximately 30 long-term studies, were included in this paper after a review of 10,510 papers. Based on population-based sample studies, the total prevalence of tuberculosis infection (TBI) in India was determined to be 40.79 %. When highly sensitive populations were excluded from the general population, this percentage remained constant at 35.99%. There was a commensurate increase in TBI prevalence in areas with higher active TB burdens, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Delhi.

Conclusion: The current thorough investigation demonstrated the high prevalence of TB infections in India, which corresponded with proactive TB infections and suggested a possible transition from latent to active TB. Notably, people living in the southern regions of the country were more likely to experience this possibility. In order to properly manage TBI in India, it is imperative that these regional variations be addressed in order to prioritize and adapt customized methods.

Recommendation: In order to assist efficient programmatic management in the pursuit of India's TB elimination targets, our study suggests giving priority to Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) in areas with high prevalence of Tuberculosis Infection (TBI) and promoting a "No test, treat only" approach for resource efficiency.