The following is a summary of “Diabetes mellitus and latent tuberculosis infection: an updated meta-analysis and systematic review,” published in the November 2023 issue of Infectious Disease by Zhou et al.

Prior research has established a connection between diabetes mellitus (DM) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), motivating this investigation to enhance our comprehension of this association.

Researchers initiated a retrospective study employing a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the connection between DM and LTBI and establish a valuable reference point for future research.

They performed thorough searches across Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed without imposing any initial date or language limitations (July 19, 2022). This involved observational research comparing LTBI rates in DM and non-DM groups, reporting aRR or aOR results. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Pooled effect estimates with 95% CI were calculated via random-effects models.

The results showed 22 studies with a total of 68,256 subjects. Among these, three cohort studies met the eligibility criteria, yielding a combined aRR of 1.26 (95% CI: 0.71–2.23). Additionally, 19 cross-sectional studies showed a combined aOR 1.21 (95% CI: 1.14–1.29). The pooled estimate for the crude RR (cRR) from the three cohort studies was 1.62 (95% CI: 1.03–2.57). Among the cross-sectional studies in the analysis, 16 provided crude ORs, resulting in a combined crude OR (cOR) estimate of 1.64 (95% CI: 1.36–1.97). When comparing the diagnosis of diabetes, the pooled aOR for the HbA1c group exceeded that of the self-reported group (pooled aOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.24–1.96 vs. 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06–1.28).

They concluded that DM was linked to an increased risk of LTBI, necessitating further research and tailored public health measures.

Source: bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-023-08775-y