THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION OF TUBERCULOSIS IN A REGION WITH HIGH PREVALENCE OF HIV INFECTION

The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) in comparison with the pre-pandemic period in a region with high prevalence of HIV infection. We studied the official statistical data on the major TB control indicators in Kemerovo region; we also studied the dynamics of the major epidemiological rates of TB and HIV infection in Kemerovo region (Kuzbass) in 2007–2021. We established a decrease in TB incidence by 24.8% in 2019–2021 along with a growing share of new TB cases with lung tissue destruction and sputum positivity, an increasing share of fibrocavernous pulmonary TB among new TB cases, and a decrease in TB detection by fluorography screening by 60% within 2 years (2019–2020). From 2019 through 2020 we observed a significant decrease (by 28.5%) in HIV infection incidence; in 2021 this tendency persisted (32.2%). TB/HIV incidence decreased by 22% in 2019–2020, and by additional 2.3% in 2021. Considering the significant decrease in TB and HIV infection incidence along with an increasing share of severe forms of TB/HIV among new cases, we believe that it is necessary to take complex measures to intensify screening of risk groups for TB/HIV in order to prevent negative consequences of restrictions related to COVID-19, which have resulted in lower coverage of the population by preventive screening in the region with tense epidemiological situation of TB/HIV infection.