biostudies-literatureMenzies NAEuropean Research CouncilU.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNIAID NIH HHSMedical Research Council6182https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10550952biostudies-literatureUnknown14(1)In 2020, almost half a million individuals developed rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB). We estimated the global burden of RR-TB over the lifetime of affected individuals. We synthesized data on incidence, case detection, and treatment outcomes in 192 countries (99.99% of global tuberculosis). Using a mathematical model, we projected disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) over the lifetime for individuals developing tuberculosis in 2020 stratified by country, age, sex, HIV, and rifampicin resistance. Here we show that incident RR-TB in 2020 was responsible for an estimated 6.9 (95% uncertainty interval: 5.5, 8.5) million DALYs, 44% (31, 54) of which accrued among TB survivors. We estimated an average of 17 (14, 21) DALYs per person developing RR-TB, 34% (12, 56) greater than for rifampicin-susceptible tuberculosis. RR-TB burden per 100,000 was highest in former Soviet Union countries and southern African countries. While RR-TB causes substantial short-term morbidity and mortality, nearly half of the overall disease burden of RR-TB accrues among tuberculosis survivors. The substantial long-term health impacts among those surviving RR-TB disease suggest the need for improved post-treatment care and further justify increased health expenditures to prevent RR-TB transmission.Nature communicationsGlobal burden of disease due to rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a mathematical modeling analysis.PMC10550952757699MR/W026643/1MR/W029227/1T32 AI007433R01AI146555AI007433Menzies NARachow ACohen TDean ASDodd PJSchumacher SGNguyen LNMirzayev FJames LPKnight GMHouben RMGJAllwood BWMeghji JfalseGlobal burden of disease due to rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a mathematical modeling analysis.In 2020, almost half a million individuals developed rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB). We estimated the global burden of RR-TB over the lifetime of affected individuals. We synthesized data on incidence, case detection, and treatment outcomes in 192 countries (99.99% of global tuberculosis). Using a mathematical model, we projected disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) over the lifetime for individuals developing tuberculosis in 2020 stratified by country, age, sex, HIV, and rifampicin resistance. Here we show that incident RR-TB in 2020 was responsible for an estimated 6.9 (95% uncertainty interval: 5.5, 8.5) million DALYs, 44% (31, 54) of which accrued among TB survivors. We estimated an average of 17 (14, 21) DALYs per person developing RR-TB, 34% (12, 56) greater than for rifampicin-susceptible tuberculosis. RR-TB burden per 100,000 was highest in former Soviet Union countries and southern African countries. While RR-TB causes substantial short-term morbidity and mortality, nearly half of the overall disease burden of RR-TB accrues among tuberculosis survivors. The substantial long-term health impacts among those surviving RR-TB disease suggest the need for improved post-treatment care and further justify increased health expenditures to prevent RR-TB transmission.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Oct2025-04-22T06:55:41.228Z2025-02-19T01:37:30.003ZS-EPMC105509523779403710.1038/s41467-023-41937-9