Prevalence of subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis in adults in community settings: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis, which presents without recognisable symptoms, is frequently detected in community screening. However, the disease category is poorly clinically defined. We explored the prevalence of subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis according to different case definitions.

Tobacco smoking clusters in households affected by tuberculosis in an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys: Time for household-wide interventions?

Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB.

Rapid antiretroviral therapy initiation in patients with advanced HIV disease: 6-month outcomes of an observational cohort evaluation in Lesotho.

For adults and adolescents, the World Health Organization defines advanced HIV disease (AHD) as a CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) count of <200 cells/mm3 or a clinical stage 3 or 4 event. We describe clinical outcomes in a cohort of AHD patients at two regional hospitals in Lesotho. From November 2018-June 2019, we prospectively enrolled eligible patients (≥15 years) not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) presenting with WHO-defined AHD into a differentiated model of care for AHD (including rapid ART initiation) and followed them for six months.

Association of diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use with subclinical-to-symptomatic spectrum of tuberculosis in 16 countries: an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors, such as smoking, increase the risk for tuberculosis (TB). Data are scarce on the risk of prevalent TB associated with these factors in the context of population-wide systematic screening and on the association between NCDs and NCD risk factors with different manifestations of TB, where ∼50% being asymptomatic but bacteriologically positive (subclinical). We did an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of national and sub-national TB prevalence surveys to synthesise the evidence on the risk of symptomatic and subclinical TB in people with NCDs or risk factors, which could help countries to plan screening activities.