Subclinical Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Prevalence Among Adults in Community Settings
March 21, 2024
The results of a recent meta-analysis have shed light on the prevalence of subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis among adult patients, highlighting the challenges posed by the poor clinical definition of the condition.
In a recent study conducted in countries with a high burden of tuberculosis, it was found that a majority of individuals with undiagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis do not report coughing, indicating the limitations of relying solely on cough as an initiating symptom for diagnosis.
The findings of the study suggest that diagnostic pathways based exclusively on cough may lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, potentially resulting in worse outcomes for patients.
The research, which involved 12 nationally-representative surveys and a subsequent meta-analysis, aimed to provide a clearer understanding of subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis and its prevalence.
Conducted by Logan Stuck, PhD, from the department of global health at Amsterdam University Medical Centers in the Netherlands, the study sought to investigate the prevalence of subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis according to different case definitions and explore its associations.
