TY - JOUR T1 - Impact of latent tuberculosis infection on health and wellbeing: a systematic review and meta-analysis JF - European Respiratory Review JO - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW DO - 10.1183/16000617.0260-2020 VL - 30 IS - 159 SP - 200260 AU - Yen Jun Wong AU - Noorliza Mohd Noordin AU - Salmaan Keshavjee AU - Shaun Wen Huey Lee Y1 - 2021/03/31 UR - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/30/159/200260.abstract N2 - The impact of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) on health and wellbeing is not well understood. This review aims to evaluate the health and wellbeing of individuals with LTBI. A systematic literature search was performed to assess studies reporting patient-reported outcomes in LTBI management including health-related quality of life (HRQoL), health utilities, disease burden and experience of individuals with LTBI. A pooled analysis was performed to estimate the effect of LTBI on HRQoL.A total of 4464 studies were screened, of which 13 eligible articles describing nine unique studies were included for review. The HRQoL of individuals with LTBI and without tuberculosis (TB) infection were comparable, and better than patients with active TB disease. However, individuals with LTBI reported poorer mental health compared with individuals without TB infection (mean difference −4.16, 95% CI −7.45– −0.87; p=0.01). Qualitative studies suggest the presence of fear, anxiety and stigma in individuals with LTBI.This review highlights potential psychosocial challenges in individuals with LTBI despite the absence of clinical symptoms. While their quality of life was marginally affected, this could be evidence to support LTBI management in preventing TB re-activation and the severe consequences of active TB disease that affect all domains of HRQoL.The health and wellbeing of individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) requires considerable attention to overcome treatment-related challenges and concerns over stigma in an effort to improve LTBI care https://bit.ly/34e3lt ER -