New Delhi: Cigarette smokers are at higher risk of contracting tuberculosis and experiencing more severe forms of the disease, experts said on Saturday. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also worsen tuberculosis (TB) outcomes and reduce treatment effectiveness, experts say, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen this approach. tobacco control laws To combat this dual threat.
World Tuberculosis Day is March 24. This date marks the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, paving the way for diagnosing and treating the disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2023, India accounted for the highest number of tuberculosis cases in the world in 2022, accounting for 27% of the global tuberculosis incidence. India has recorded 2.8 million (28.2 lakh) tuberculosis cases. In 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious vision to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025 demonstrates the government's commitment to comprehensively tackle the problem, experts said.
One of the important factors worsening the burden of tuberculosis in India is the link between tuberculosis and tobacco use, they said.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in India, a huge number of individuals are tobacco users.
“There is an urgent need to strengthen tobacco control laws to combat the dual threat of tuberculosis. By enforcing stringent tobacco control measures in India, we can mitigate the impact of tobacco use on tuberculosis incidence and mortality,” said Bhavna Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive Officer, Voluntary. said. The Indian Health Association said:
“Furthermore, there is an urgent need to strengthen tobacco cessation services to support individuals to quit smoking and reduce their risk of tuberculosis and other related health complications,” she added.
Tuberculosis, caused primarily by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, poses a complex problem in India, where about a quarter of the population is infected and at risk of developing the disease.
Recent studies have identified a correlation between tobacco consumption and tuberculosis, showing how smoking significantly increases the risk of developing, developing, and dying from tuberculosis.
“Studies have shown that people who smoke are 2.5 times more likely to develop pulmonary tuberculosis than non-smokers. TB patients who smoke are twice as likely to die during treatment. Smoking not only increases susceptibility to tuberculosis, it also reduces the effectiveness of treatment. Because it weakens it.” said Dr. Sonu Goel, Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER.
“This also increases the likelihood of recurrence and increases the burden faced by both patients and the healthcare system,” Dr. Goel said.
Additionally, India's efforts to eradicate tuberculosis are further complicated by the prevalence of tobacco use, with about 10% of the population being tobacco users, Goel said.
“By quitting smoking, individuals can protect themselves and their communities from the devastating effects of tuberculosis,” Goel added.
Despite laudable initiatives by the central government such as the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), stronger enforcement and evidence-based interventions are essential to effectively curb tobacco consumption, experts have stressed. .
Moreover, there is growing consensus on the importance of collaboration across health sectors to efficiently address tobacco-TB related issues and leverage existing TB infrastructure to effectively deliver smoking cessation interventions, they said.
The intertwined relationship between cigarette smoking and tuberculosis presents a tremendous challenge to public health in India, they said.
Joint efforts encompassing both prevention and treatment strategies are essential to combat tobacco use and mitigate its adverse impact on tuberculosis incidence, progression and mortality, experts said.
World Tuberculosis Day is March 24. This date marks the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, paving the way for diagnosing and treating the disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2023, India accounted for the highest number of tuberculosis cases in the world in 2022, accounting for 27% of the global tuberculosis incidence. India has recorded 2.8 million (28.2 lakh) tuberculosis cases. In 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious vision to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025 demonstrates the government's commitment to comprehensively tackle the problem, experts said.
One of the important factors worsening the burden of tuberculosis in India is the link between tuberculosis and tobacco use, they said.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in India, a huge number of individuals are tobacco users.
“There is an urgent need to strengthen tobacco control laws to combat the dual threat of tuberculosis. By enforcing stringent tobacco control measures in India, we can mitigate the impact of tobacco use on tuberculosis incidence and mortality,” said Bhavna Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive Officer, Voluntary. said. The Indian Health Association said:
“Furthermore, there is an urgent need to strengthen tobacco cessation services to support individuals to quit smoking and reduce their risk of tuberculosis and other related health complications,” she added.
Tuberculosis, caused primarily by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, poses a complex problem in India, where about a quarter of the population is infected and at risk of developing the disease.
Recent studies have identified a correlation between tobacco consumption and tuberculosis, showing how smoking significantly increases the risk of developing, developing, and dying from tuberculosis.
“Studies have shown that people who smoke are 2.5 times more likely to develop pulmonary tuberculosis than non-smokers. TB patients who smoke are twice as likely to die during treatment. Smoking not only increases susceptibility to tuberculosis, it also reduces the effectiveness of treatment. Because it weakens it.” said Dr. Sonu Goel, Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER.
“This also increases the likelihood of recurrence and increases the burden faced by both patients and the healthcare system,” Dr. Goel said.
Additionally, India's efforts to eradicate tuberculosis are further complicated by the prevalence of tobacco use, with about 10% of the population being tobacco users, Goel said.
“By quitting smoking, individuals can protect themselves and their communities from the devastating effects of tuberculosis,” Goel added.
Despite laudable initiatives by the central government such as the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), stronger enforcement and evidence-based interventions are essential to effectively curb tobacco consumption, experts have stressed. .
Moreover, there is growing consensus on the importance of collaboration across health sectors to efficiently address tobacco-TB related issues and leverage existing TB infrastructure to effectively deliver smoking cessation interventions, they said.
The intertwined relationship between cigarette smoking and tuberculosis presents a tremendous challenge to public health in India, they said.
Joint efforts encompassing both prevention and treatment strategies are essential to combat tobacco use and mitigate its adverse impact on tuberculosis incidence, progression and mortality, experts said.