Tuberculosis-related disability at the time of improved epidemiological situation

The incidence and mortality of tuberculosis have been decreasing in recent years. Tuberculosis-related disability is one of the parameters reflecting the epidemiological situation. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of tuberculosis-related disability in the period of improvement and stabilization of the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis. We used the data of medical and social expertise for 2015-2017, as well as the results of primary and secondary examination for disability. We evaluated yearly parameters in the adult population only. Results. We found that the majority of disabled people with tuberculosis had group 2 disability; more than half of them were younger than 45 years of age; less than 5% were older than 55 years of age. We observed increased rates of HIV-related disability, particularly in young people. There has been a 10-fold increase in the rates of HIV-related disability among patients with tuberculosis over the last 3 years. In order to reduce the burden of tuberculosis-related disability, it is necessary to stratify its causes and to develop evidence-based measures to improve treatment efficacy.