Tuberculosis in Ukraine during the COVID-­19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective — to study the situation with tuberculosis in Ukraine in 2020—2021 compared to 2019. Materials and methods. Searched and statistically analyzed data from official statistical reports and analytical collections on tuberculosis for 2019—2021 in Ukraine. Results and discussion. The COVID-19 epidemic, to eliminate which the main material and human resources in health care were directed, aggravated the epidemiological situation with tuberculosis in Ukraine; there was a reduction in anti-tuberculosis activities, human resources and infrastructure of anti-tuberculosis institutions. This has led to a decrease in TB incidence, prevalence and mortality, while in other parts of the world, TB incidence and mortality rates and the effectiveness of treatment have increased significantly. Conclusions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of health resources have been devoted to fighting it. Anti-tuberculosis measures were secondary and were being phased out. This led to a decrease in statistical indicators of the incidence of all clinical forms of tuberculosis and mortality from it, including multi-resistant, and its relapses, as well as co-infection — tuberculosis/HIV/AIDS. The incidence of tuberculosis among medical workers decreased. The prevalence of all forms of active tuberculosis among Ukrainians had the same trend as the incidence.