Climate change and tuberculosis: enhancing impact through an implementation science informed agenda.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Climate change poses significant threats to global tuberculosis (TB) control efforts, particularly in resource-limited regions.
• Existing research often describes climate impacts on TB but lacks practical guidance for adapting TB programs.
• There is a critical need to bridge the gap between understanding climate-TB links and implementing effective adaptive interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how implementation science can address the evidence-to-practice gap in climate-adaptive TB control.
• To synthesize evidence on climate-related pathways affecting TB vulnerability using the WHO's Climate Change and Tuberculosis Analytical Framework.
• To identify gaps in data regarding the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of adaptive TB strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis drawing upon the WHO's Climate Change and Tuberculosis Analytical Framework.
• Examination of implementation science frameworks and methods applicable to climate-TB adaptation.
• Identification of data gaps concerning adaptive intervention implementation.

Main Results:

• Climate change exacerbates TB by worsening food insecurity, disrupting health systems, and causing displacement.
• Key climate-related pathways influencing TB vulnerability were identified.
• Significant gaps exist in data on the practical implementation of adaptive TB interventions.

Conclusions:

• Implementation science is crucial for developing actionable, equitable, and sustainable public health solutions for climate-adaptive TB control.
• Integrating implementation science into climate-TB research is essential for building resilient TB programs.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of adaptive strategies.