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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 15, Number 11

The looming epidemic of diabetes-associated tuberculosis: learning lessons from HIV-associated tuberculosis

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The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing at a dramatic rate, and countries in Asia, particularly India and China, will bear the brunt of this epidemic. Persons with diabetes have a significantly increased risk of active tuberculosis (TB), which is two to three times higher than in persons without diabetes. In this article, we argue that the epidemiological interactions and the effects on clinical presentation and treatment resulting from the interaction between diabetes and TB are similar to those observed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and TB. The lessons learned from approaches to reduce the dual burden of HIV and TB, and especially the modes of screening for the two diseases, can be adapted and applied to the screening, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diabetes and TB. The new World Health Organization (WHO) and The Union Collaborative Framework for care and control of TB and diabetes has many similarities to the WHO Policy on Collaborative Activities to reduce the dual burden of TB and HIV, and aims to guide policy makers and implementers on how to move forward and combat this looming dual epidemic. The response to the growing HIV-associated TB epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s was slow and uncoordinated, despite clearly articulated warnings about the scale of the forthcoming problem. We must not make the same mistake with diabetes and TB. The Framework provides a template for action, and it is now up to donors, policy makers and implementers to apply the recommendations in the field and to 'learn by doing'.

Keywords: DIABETES MELLITUS; FRAMEWORK; HIV; SCREENING; TREATMENT OUTCOMES; TUBERCULOSIS

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK 2: China Office, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Beijing, China 3: South-East Asia Office, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Delhi, India 4: Stop TB Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Clinical Center on Tuberculosis, Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China 5: Clinical Center on Tuberculosis, Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China 6: South-East Asia Offi ce, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Delhi, India 7: National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Delhi, India 8: Medical Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Operational Research Unit, Brussels Operational Center, Luxembourg 9: Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 10: School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, New York 11: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 12: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK 13: Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark 14: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France 15: World Diabetes Foundation, Gentofte, Denmark

Publication date: 01 November 2011

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

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