In this presentation, Dr. Ge shared her research regarding the unclear potential for environmental impacts to the progression of TB, including active and latent. This is a CIHR-funded project protocol. Dr. Ge and collaborators linked these cohorts of 140,000 patients, diagnosed with LBTI, with air pollution, greenness, and other environmental and socio-economic data at the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium. They aimed to assess the hypothesis that air pollution increases risks of LTBI and TB progressions to activation, recurrence, and death, adjusting potential confounders. Findings of this study will provide evidence to explain associations of air pollution and greenness with TB progressions at all stages for better elucidating whom and where interventions should be targeted, which populations may be more affected by air pollution or more benefit greenness exposures, and where communities may consider reducing emissions, improving green spaces, or both to minimize the health impacts of inequities in environmental exposures

Abstract: This study aims to assess the impacts of air pollution and greenness on progressions of LTBI to active TB, as well as recurrence and mortality progressive from active TB. This study will provide a solid theoretic and data foundation for future studies on the mechanisms through which air pollution could affect TB and related chronic diseases, while reducing the burden associated with TB worldwide.