Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 10, 2024 3 months, 4 days, 32 minutes ago
TB News: Tuberculosis (TB) has long been a global health issue, but a new study from South Korea reveals that the impact of the disease might extend far beyond the lungs. Researchers from multiple prestigious institutions in South Korea, including Chungbuk National University Hospital, Korea University Guro Hospital, and Hanyang University College of Medicine, have uncovered a startling connection between surviving tuberculosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This
TB News report dives into the study's findings, breaking them down in an easy-to-understand way for everyone.
Tuberculosis survivors face elevated risk of heart disease
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Understanding the Link Between TB and Heart Disease
Tuberculosis is primarily known as a disease that affects the lungs, but its influence on the body doesn’t stop there. Even after successful treatment, TB can leave survivors with lingering health issues. This article reveals that one of the most concerning of these is an increased risk of developing heart problems.
The researchers analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), which spanned from 2007 to 2019. They focused on individuals who had been diagnosed with pulmonary TB and compared their 10-year risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) to that of individuals who had never had TB.
The Study in Numbers
Out of 69,331 participants, about 4% had previously suffered from TB. The findings were clear and concerning: those who had survived TB had a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease compared to those who had not.
Specifically, the study found that 40.46% of the TB survivors fell into the high-risk category for ASCVD, compared to just 24.00% in the control group.
But it wasn’t just the high-risk category that was alarming. The intermediate-risk group also showed elevated numbers among TB survivors, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.14, meaning they were 14% more likely to develop heart disease compared to those without a TB history. For those in the high-risk category, the odds were even more concerning, with an OR of 1.69.
Why Are TB Survivors More at Risk?
The study sheds light on several factors that could explain why TB survivors are more prone to heart disease. Chronic inflammation caused by the TB infection, even after it has been treated, is believed to be a major contributor. This persistent inflammation can lead to the development of atherosclerosis, where the arteries become clogged with fatty deposits, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Moreover, the researchers identified several other factors that were common among TB survivors and could contribute to their higher heart disease risk. These included older age, smoking, high family income, diabetes mellitus (DM), and depression. For in
stance, current smokers who had survived TB were found to have an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.63 for developing heart disease, meaning they were more than twice as likely to do so compared to non-smokers.
The Broader Implications
These findings have significant implications for the long-term health management of TB survivors. The study emphasizes the need for continuous cardiovascular monitoring for those who have survived TB. Regular check-ups, lifestyle modifications, and interventions to control blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels could be crucial in reducing the risk of heart disease in this vulnerable population.
The study findings also highlight the importance of smoking cessation and mental health support as part of the comprehensive care for TB survivors. Given that depression was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of heart disease (with an aOR of 2.06), addressing mental health issues could also play a vital role in improving the overall well-being of these individuals.
Future Directions
The study’s authors call for further research to better understand the specific mechanisms that link TB survival with increased cardiovascular risk. They suggest that future studies should focus on tracking the long-term cardiovascular health of TB survivors and investigating the role of specific inflammatory markers and immune responses. Additionally, the study’s findings need to be validated in diverse populations to see if the results hold true across different ethnicities and regions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study provides compelling evidence that surviving tuberculosis can leave individuals at a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease. The findings underscore the importance of comprehensive, long-term healthcare strategies for TB survivors that go beyond treating the initial infection. By focusing on cardiovascular health and addressing comorbidities like diabetes and depression, healthcare providers can help mitigate the long-term risks that TB survivors face.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1364337/full
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sunday-editorial-covid-19-could-possibly-be-contributing-directly-and-indirectly-to-the-rise-of-tuberculosis-infections
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breakthrough-research-unveils-new-strategy-to-combat-tuberculosis
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