PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alawi, Maha M.
AU  - Alserehi, Haleema A.
AU  - Ali, Ahmed O.
AU  - Albalawi, Abeer M.
AU  - Alanizi, Mashael K.
AU  - Nabet, Fatima M.
AU  - Alkamaly, Modhi A.
AU  - Assiri, Abdullah M.
AU  - Jokhdar, Hani
AU  - Qutub, Mohammed O.
AU  - khoja, Moahmmed A.
AU  - Azhar, Esam I.
AU  - Taskandi, Wael A.
AU  - Sindi, Annes A.
AU  - Yasir, Muhammad
TI  - Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia following the implementation of end tuberculosis strategy
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2024.45.1.20230424
DP  - 2024 Jan 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 60--68
VI  - 45
IP  - 1
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/45/1/60.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/45/1/60.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2024 Jan 01; 45
AB  - Objectives: To analyze the evolution of tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology in Saudi Arabia in the 5 years following the implementation of the end-TB Strategy.Methods: A retrospective analysis of surveillance data, reported by the national tuberculosis control program from 2015-2019, was carried out. The annual incidence and the percentage of yearly changes were calculated and compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) milestones, which anticipate a 4-5% annual decline. Additionally, various other epidemiological indicators of TB were examined.Results: The national TB incidence declined from 10.55% per 100,000 in 2015 to 8.76% per 100,000 in 2019, aligning with the WHO’s 2019 milestone estimated between 8.59-8.96% per 100,000. While Makkah Region (40.3%) and Riyadh (24.6%) accounted for the majority of cases, Jazan region consistently exhibited the highest incidence throughout the study period. Demographic features shifted towards a younger age category, male, and native dominance. There was a consistent decrease in resistance and intermediate sensitivity to all first-line anti-TB drugs, associated with a substantial decrease in both polydrug resistance (from 4.7-1.9%; p<0.001) and multidrug resistance (from 4.4-2.4%; p=0.008).Conclusion: The figures of TB incidence TB in Saudi Arabia between 2015-2019 has met the WHO end-TB milestones, predicting successful progress toward the 2035 goal.