Possible sex difference in latent tuberculosis infection risk among close tuberculosis contacts

Abstract:

Methods: This observational multi-center cohort followed close contacts of culture-confirmed pulmonary TB patients for 24 months across five sites in Brazil. LTBI was defined as a positive interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) at baseline or 6 months. Multivariable logistic regression and propensity-score weighted models were used to assess odds ratios (OR) for LTBI acquisition by birth sex.

Results: Of 1,838 close contacts, 504 of 1,093 (46%) female contacts were IGRA positive compared to 295 of 745 (40%) men. The unadjusted OR for IGRA positivity among women vs. men was 1.31. However, multivariable regression and weighted models yielded more attenuated ORs of 1.14 and 1.15, respectively, with confidence intervals including the null.

Conclusion: The point estimate for LTBI among close TB contacts in Brazil was higher in women, though this difference was less pronounced in multivariable models. If confirmed in other settings, these findings warrant further study of underlying socio-behavioral or biological mechanisms.

Keywords: Latent tuberculosis; Sex difference; Interferon-Gamma release assay; Health status disparities

Clique aqui

• Data de Publicação: 16/07/2022
• Autores: Paul Y. Wada, Allyson G. Costa, Mariana Araújo-Pereira, Beatriz Barreto-Duarte, Alexandra B. Souza, Michael S. Rocha, Marina C. Figueiredo, Megan M. Turner, Valéria C. Rolla, Afrânio L. Kritski, Marcelo Cordeiro-Santos, Bruno B. Andrade, Timothy R. Sterling, Pedro F. Rebeiro