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Tuberculosis trends in eastern Europe and the former USSR
M C Raviglione1, H L Rieder, K Styblo
1Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Tubercle and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
|December 1, 1994
Summary
Tuberculosis notification rates are high in Eastern Europe and the former USSR, with some countries showing increasing trends. Mortality is also rising in several nations, indicating a concerning public health challenge.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern globally.
- Trends in TB morbidity and mortality in Eastern Europe and the former USSR require detailed assessment due to varying healthcare systems and data quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the trends in tuberculosis morbidity and mortality across Eastern European countries and the former Soviet Union.
- To compare TB notification rates with those in Western European countries.
Main Methods:
- Data collection from Ministries of Health reports, World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaires, and national TB associations.
- Analysis of tuberculosis notification rates and mortality trends from 1980 to 1992.
- Assessment of data quality and surveillance variations between countries.
Main Results:
- Most Eastern European and former USSR countries exhibit higher TB notification rates (19-80 per 100,000) than Western Europe.
- While some countries like the Czech Republic show declining rates, others like Romania and Kazakhstan have high rates, and Romania and Turkmenistan show increasing trends.
- Tuberculosis mortality is increasing in Romania, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Turkmenistan, with no decline observed in most other countries in the region.
Conclusions:
- Tuberculosis poses a growing challenge in Eastern Europe and the former USSR, characterized by high and often increasing morbidity and mortality.
- Variations in surveillance quality impact the accuracy of reported TB trends.
- Urgent public health interventions are needed to address the rising TB burden in these regions.