Global tuberculosis deaths are falling but 2035 targets remain out of reach
Global Health
Funding cuts to global disease programs can redirect resources away from agricultural extension and rural health infrastructure in the same high-burden regions where smallholder farmers grow much of the world's food.
Tuberculosis is still one of the world's deadliest infections, and a new analysis covering 204 countries found that while deaths have dropped over the past decade, the world is nowhere near on track to meet the goals set for 2035. Drug-resistant forms of the disease are barely budging, and the countries hit hardest are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Smoking, heavy drinking, and high blood sugar together account for a significant chunk of deaths, meaning lifestyle factors are shaping who survives.
Key Findings
In 2023, TB caused an estimated 9.11 million new cases and 1.22 million deaths globally, with 54.6 million disability-adjusted life-years lost.
From 2015 to 2023, TB incidence fell 19.2% and deaths fell 22.6%, but these rates fall far short of the WHO targets of 90% incidence reduction and 95% mortality reduction by 2035.
Eliminating smoking, alcohol use, and high fasting blood glucose would have prevented roughly 37% of TB deaths in 2023, reducing the toll from 1.22 million to 768,000.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A major global study found that tuberculosis killed 1.22 million people in 2023, with progress toward elimination targets falling well short and unevenly distributed across regions. Drug-resistant TB and the compounding effect of HIV continue to undermine gains, and cuts to global health funding threaten to reverse hard-won reductions.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Global, regional, and national burden of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis by HIV status, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading global cause of death from a single infectious agent. Recent reductions in global health funding have threatened TB control, making comprehensive assessment of TB, ...
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