Epidemiology and socioeconomic determinants

The incidence rate of TB has declined worldwide but remains unacceptably high. TB is currently the ninth leading cause of death and the leading cause of death among infectious diseases worldwide. Several behavioural and biological factors are associated with TB, such as HIV infection, tobacco smoking, DM, alcohol abuse and poor nutrition. Socioeconomic factors, such as poor housing, crowded living conditions, migration, low income and advanced age, are also associated with TB. There is an established link between poverty and TB, and increasing evidence suggests that actions or policies that target the socioeconomic determinants of TB can reduce its incidence. In addition, the costs of treatment faced by patients, which can be significant in countries without universal health coverage, must be assessed so that interventions can be implemented at the clinical, public health and socioeconomic levels to reduce the burden of TB. © ERS 2018.