Sep 04 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
HEALTH THREAT - Diabetes triggering India's TB burden, says WHO study
Kounteya Sinha
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London
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Diabetes has now been found to be fuelling India’s tuberculosis burden.India has the world’s highest diabetes patients and is also referred to as the world’s TB capital. Now, a study to be announced by the British medical journal Lancet on Thursday, reveal that India tops the list of countries with the highest estimated number of adult TB cases associated with diabetes.
New estimates produced reveal that the top 10 countries with the highest estimated number of adult TB cases associated with diabetes are India (302000), China (156000), South Africa (70 000), Indonesia (48000), Pakistan (43000), Bangladesh (36000), Philippines (29000), Russia (23000), Myanmar (21000) and Congo (19000). “These findings highlight the growing impact of diabetes on TB control in regions of the world where both diseases are prevalent,“ says author Dr Knut Lönnroth from the Global TB Programme at WHO in Geneva.
“TB control is being undermined by the growing number diabetes patients, which is expected to reach an astounding 592 million worldwide by 2035”.
The study indicates that 15% of adult TB cases worldwide are already attributable to diabetes. These diabetes-associated cases correspond to over 1 million cases a year, with more than 40% occurring in India and China alone. If diabetes continue to rise out of control, the downward trajectory in global TB cases could be offset by 8% or more by 2035, warn the authors.
New estimates produced reveal that the top 10 countries with the highest estimated number of adult TB cases associated with diabetes are India (302000), China (156000), South Africa (70 000), Indonesia (48000), Pakistan (43000), Bangladesh (36000), Philippines (29000), Russia (23000), Myanmar (21000) and Congo (19000). “These findings highlight the growing impact of diabetes on TB control in regions of the world where both diseases are prevalent,“ says author Dr Knut Lönnroth from the Global TB Programme at WHO in Geneva.
“TB control is being undermined by the growing number diabetes patients, which is expected to reach an astounding 592 million worldwide by 2035”.
The study indicates that 15% of adult TB cases worldwide are already attributable to diabetes. These diabetes-associated cases correspond to over 1 million cases a year, with more than 40% occurring in India and China alone. If diabetes continue to rise out of control, the downward trajectory in global TB cases could be offset by 8% or more by 2035, warn the authors.
