Covid-19 and tuberculosis (TB) have striking similarities. They are airborne infections that are easily transmitted. Both are more likely to spread in crowded environments and to harm people who have compromised immune systems.
1.8 million people were reported to have died as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic in its first year. Every year between 2010 and 2020, 1.5-2 million people died from tuberculosis. However, the term “pandemic” is rarely used in the context of tuberculosis. The amount of money spent by governments on research and development during the first 11 months of the Covid-19 pandemic was 162 times the amount spent on tuberculosis in 2020. The disparity in responses to the two pandemics can only be explained by differences in the demographics of those affected.
Previous meta‐analyses have shown that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease were risk factors for disease progression in patients with COVID‐19.
However, to be the best of our knowledge, no meta‐analysis has yet evaluated the impact of tuberculosis on COVID‐19 severity and mortality. Previous meta‐analyses have shown that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cerebrovascular disease, hy-pertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease were risk factors for disease progression in patients with COVID‐19
In an exclusive interaction Dr. Ankit Singhal, Pulmonologist at Sri Balaji Action Medical Hospital New Delhi explained Impact of COVID-19 on TB patients and its severity:
“COVID-19 has been divided in three categories mild, moderate and severe and after recovering from it any disease like tuberculosis can take place in your body due to the compromised immunity. TB is either pulmonary or extrapulmonary and it is called post-COVID because you might recover from COVID but you might get symptoms of TB,” said Dr. Ankit Singhal.
