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Global prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Salari N, Kanjoori AH, Hosseinian-Far A, Hasheminezhad R, Mansouri K, Mohammadi M

Infectious diseases of poverty, 2023

318,430 participants · 104 citations

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is a bacterial infectious disease, which affects different parts of a human body, mainly lungs and can lead to the patient's death. The aim of this study is to investigate the global prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: In this study, the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar repositories were systematically searched to find studies reporting the global prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The search did not entail a lower time limit, and articles published up until August 2022 were considered. Random effects model was used to perform the analysis. The heterogeneity of the studies was examined with the I2 test. Data analysis was conducted within the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software.

Results: In the review of 148 studies with a sample size of 318,430 people, the I2 index showed high heterogeneity (I2 = 99.6), and accordingly random effects method was used to analyze the results. Publication bias was also examined using the Begg and Mazumdar correlation test which indicated the existence of publication bias in the studies (P = 0.008). According to our meta-analysis, the global pooled prevalence of multi-drug resistant TB is 11.6% (95% CI: 9.1-14.5%).

Conclusions: The global prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis was found to be very high, thus health authorities should consider ways to control and manage the disease to prevent a wider spread of…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 318,430 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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