Latent tuberculosis infection and incident cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular death

Abstract

Active tuberculosis may heighten the risk of incident cardiovascular morbidity and premature mortality, whereas whether latent TB infection (LTBI) recapitulates these adverse outcomes is unclear. We evaluated the effect of LTBI on all-cause and cardiovascular-specific death among US adults who underwent tuberculin skin testing in 1999-2000 and were followed up to December 31st, 2019. We also examined the impact of co-occurring traditional risk factors on these outcomes. Adjustments were made for socio-economic and demographic factors. LTBI was defined as tuberculin skin induration ≥10mm, and cause of death as cardiovascular if from heart or cerebrovascular diseases, and non-cardiovascular if otherwise. LTBI was associated with increased of overall and non-cardiovascular specific death but not cardiovascular-specific death. Risk of death was highest when LTBI was comorbid LTBI with diabetes. LTBI may increase risk of death by mechanisms other than progression to active TB disease.