Impact of the COVID-19 pandemia on the basic tuberculosis epidemiological indicators in Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The aim of the study. To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the main epidemiological indicators of tuberculosis in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Materials and methods . For a comparative assessment of morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis and similar indicators in the combined pathology of tuberculosis and COVID-19, statistical data of the organizational and analytical department of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) »Scientific and Practical Center »Phthisiology« named after E.N. Andreev« used. The observation period covers the first half of 2018-2021. For the correct calculation of epidemiological indicators of semi-annual intervals, the method of the coefficient of the annual expression of the population (λ) used. Results . Polynomial trend lines in absolute values have a steady decline in the incidence of tuberculosis (R2 = 0.8516; p < 0.01), mortality from tuberculosis (R2 = 0.9947; p < 0.05), with an insignificant decrease in the level of coverage of the population with preventive medical examinations (R2 = 0.293; p > 0.05). The decrease in the rate of tuberculosis incidence in various administrative-territorial zones was in the Arctic zone – by 6.8%, in the East Yakut region - by 58.2%, in the West Yakut region – by 39.9%, in the Central Yakut region – by 40.9% and in the South Yakut region – by 2.4%. The highest proportion of the tuberculosis incidence rate (per 100 thousand population) among territorial-administrative zones observed in the Arctic (24.3%) and East Yakut (26.4%) territories. In the West Yakut, Central Yakut and South Yakut zones, the spread of tuberculosis incidence was equivalent. The growth rates of the combined incidence of new coronavirus infection in tuberculosis patients were insignificant (p > 0.05): in 2020 – 22 cases (4.6 per 100 thousand population) and in 2021 – 26 cases (5.3 per 100 thousand population), which amounted to 12.7% and 17.7% of the number of newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients over the same period. Of the patients with tuberculosis with the combined pathology of COVID-19, a complication in the form of viral pneumonitis noted in 31.9% of cases, and of their number, according to the degree of CT 1, in 93.3% of cases. Conclusion . Anti-epidemic measures to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus infection among the population of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) are identical in effectiveness to those in tuberculosis. Various rates of decline of the main epidemiological indicators in the territorialadministrative zones of the republic characterize the effectiveness of both anti-epidemic and anti-tuberculosis measures among the population in the subordinate administrative territories. Limiting the spread of COVID-19 combined pathology among tuberculosis patients and good treatment outcomes indicates the readiness of the tuberculosis service of the republic and phthisiologists to work in new anti-epidemic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.