Tuberculosis recurrence rates in various World Health Organization regions from 2010 to 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant disease that causes numerous illnesses and deaths worldwide. TB remains one of the top ten causes of infectious disease deaths globally. The risk of TB increases with age, inadequate treatment, and drug resistance. Multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) affects 4% of new patients and 18% of those who have undergone previous treatment. Active TB can recur or lead to new infections, which may be linked to untreated dormant bacteria or exposure to different strains. Many human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients experience reinfections, underscoring the connection between TB and HIV, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems. Environmental factors, especially in areas with high TB prevalence and poor living conditions, can heighten the risk of reinfection. Drug-resistant strains make treatment more challenging, and issues like malnutrition and HIV further weaken immune defenses. Firstly, a literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and Scopus. We collected data on global TB relapse cases from 2010 to 2023 in World Health Organization regions. The region with the highest relapse rate was South East Asia at 137 per 100,000 population, followed by the African Region at 84 per 100,000 population. The lowest relapse rates were seen in the Pan American Health Organization Region of the Americas (PAHO) at 22 per 100,000 population and the European Region at 26 per 100,000 population. The year 2023 recorded the highest relapse rates, suggesting a potential resurgence of TB cases, while 2020 marked the lowest rates observed. Discrepancies across regions and years are influenced by factors such as healthcare accessibility, socioeconomic conditions, and surveillance accuracy. Implementing public health measures and conducting research on new vaccines are essential in reducing relapse rates and effectively controlling TB.