title: Longevity loss among cured tuberculosis patients and the potential value of prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence of substantial, quantifiable and preventable burdens of mortality hazard even after anti-tuberculosis treatment and cure would be a compelling, concrete, and useful measure of the value of prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared years of potential life lost between a cohort of 3 933 cured tuberculosis (TB) patients and 9 166 persons with latent tuberculous infection. We constructed a regression model to predict the expected years of potential life lost in each cohort and for demographic subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among decedents, a history of fully treated TB is associated with a predicted average 3.6 more years of potential life loss than a comparable population without active TB. Greater longevity losses were predicted among those identified as White and Hispanic than among Black and Asian counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found significant differences in predicted longevity of treated TB survivors relative to a similar group without active TB. These excess losses are substantial: a total of 14 158 life-years or the equivalent of more than 188 75-year lifespans. These findings illustrate an important opportunity cost associated with each preventable TB case - an average of 3.6 potential years of life. We conclude that substantial preventable mortality burdens remain despite adequate anti-tuberculosis treatment, a compelling rationale for more widespread and systematic use of prevention.
authors.affiliation: Tarleton State University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoger
authors.affiliation: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lykens
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Beavers
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017741:Survivors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents