Trends in tuberculosis and inequality-adjusted Human Development Index in Brazil, 2018-2022

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, causing 1.5 million deaths annually. We conducted an ecological analysis to examine TB prevalence in Brazil from 2018 to 2022, focusing on its relationship with the Human Development Index (HDI) and its inequality-adjusted version HDI (IHDI). We determined significant correlation between HDI and TB prevalence for the period of 2018-2021 (P = 0.044 in 2018, P = 0.041 in 2019, P = 0.044 in 2020, and P = 0.043 in 2021). However, an unexpected rise in TB cases in 2022, despite an increase in HDI, disrupted this trend (P = 0.12), indicating additional influencing factors. The IHDI showed correlation with TB prevalence, underscoring the importance of addressing socio-economic inequalities. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions, particularly for vulnerable populations.