Prevalence of tuberculosis-related chest radiographic abnormalities among individuals with latent tuberculosis infection in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Chest radiography is routinely used during latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) evaluation to exclude active disease.

METHODS

PubMed and google scholar were searched for studies reporting chest radiographic abnormalities among individuals with LTBI in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate pooled prevalence. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed funnel plot, Egger's regression and Begg's rank correlation tests. Meta-analysis was performed using OpenMeta Analyst software and Comprehensive meta-analysis version 3.

RESULTS

Twenty included studies yielded a pooled prevalence of chest radiographic abnormalities of 5.8% (95% CI: 2.7-11.2). Between-study variability was high (t 2  = 1.742; I 2  = 90.93% with Q = 209.569, df = 19, and P < 0.001). By country, the highest and lowest prevalence estimates were 6.1% in Saudi Arabia and 2.4% in Qatar, respectively. By population group, higher prevalence was observed among kidney transplant recipients 37.1%, while prisoners demonstrated very low prevalence 0.1%. Prevalence was 8.0% in hospitals and 0.1% in prisons. Chest X-ray was the predominant imaging modality (5.6%). Meta-regression identified population group and study setting as significant sources of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Chest radiographic abnormalities occur in a minority of LTBI individuals in GCC countries, with substantial variation across populations and settings.