Demographic characteristics of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the Russian Federation

<b>Aim:</b> To study the demographic characteristics of drug-resistant tuberculosis to predict its risk in patients from different age groups. <b>Methods:</b> Analysis of the phenotypic drug susceptibility tests (DST) results of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum collected before treatment initiation from 6415 new TB cases in the following age groups: 0-19, 20-39, 40-60, and over 60 years of age. <b>Results:</b> Proportion of cases with preserved drug susceptibility to all TB drugs in the age groups was as follows: 0-19 – 48.8% [95% CI 42.9-54.6], 20-39 – 51.6 [95% CI 49.8-53.3], 40-60 – 56.1% [95% CI 54.1-58.1], &gt;60 – 64.6% [95% CI 60.9-68.2]. Proportion of RR/MDR-TB in the following age groups was: 0-19 – 36.4% [95% CI 30.8-42.0], 20-39 – 34.6 [95% CI 33.0-36.3], 40-60 – 30.3% [95% CI 28.5-32.1], &gt;60 – 24.6 [95% CI 21.4-27.9]. <b>Conclusion:</b> Proportion of drug-resistant tuberculosis decreases with the age of patients, which is consistent with the predominant reactivation mechanism of the disease development among patients of older age. It allows projections of an increase in proportion of RR/MDR-TB under any conditions. With the development of TB epidemic, an accelerated increase in the share of RR/MDR-TB is expected due to the incidence increase in younger patients.