Background
Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious illness that affects the lungs and spreads through the air. TB accounts for millions of deaths around the world globally. While TB resides predominantly in the latent state inside many people, lack of immunity due to cardiovascular diseases, organs transplant, HIV/AIDS, and other comorbidities leads to its progression to active TB disease. More than half of the US population has obesity, which compromises one’s immunity. Thus, to support WHO’s End TB program, it is crucial to identify the risk factors that progress latent TB infection into active TB disease. Total cholesterol is a measure of the quantity of cholesterol in the blood linked to various health consequences, including cardiovascular disease. Thus, this project investigates the potential association between total cholesterol levels and TB prevalence in the United States.
Study Summary
This paper aims to identify the true relationship between the total cholesterol level in the human body and the odds of tuberculosis in US children and adolescents. This report includes analysis and insights on TB’s association with total cholesterol using a nationally representative NHANES 2011-2012 survey cycle. The analysis’s outcome variable is TB’s prevalence, determined by blood, urine, and skin tests and people prescribed active TB medicines. The exposure variable in the analysis is the levels of total cholesterol, categorized into low (<120 mg/dL), average (>= 120 mg/dL and <= 240 mg/dL), and high levels (>= 240 mg/dL). The covariates include age, gender, race, household size, birth country, smoking, and alcohol use. This report includes background and significance, project goals and objectives based on CEPH-accredited MPH competencies, statistical procedures, results, integrative analysis, and summarized capstone experience.
General Theme
One general theme that frequently occurred during the integrative analysis includes data sharing among healthcare providers, relevant organizations, researchers, and policymakers to ensure a shared understanding of this deadly disease for effective and rapid advancement in research. In addition, the WHO should incorporate qualitative research methods and evaluation of TB research to understand the grassroots risk factors and perceived barriers to preventative TB treatment. At the policy level, policies on border screening for disease transmission should be strengthened while fostering diplomatic collaboration. The organization leaders should make data-driven decisions while accommodating the need for more resource settings in the international community. Overall, it is essential to acknowledge that TB cannot be eliminated only by eliminating it in the US. However, through policies, funding, and public health approaches, the global community should collaborate for this shared goal.