Comprehensive care lowers multimorbidity, impairment, disability and absenteeism in people with TB.

A substantial proportion of TB survivors experience poor health, live with comorbidities or experience impairments or disability, even when TB is successfully treated. In this study, implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, this disease burden was addressed through a package of screening, referral and assessment for functional impairments at the start and end of TB treatment. Reductions in symptoms, harmful behaviours, functional impairments and absenteeism were observed. These promising results demonstrate the importance of early intervention. They could be enhanced by implementing this package of interventions in other high TB burden settings and by longer-term follow up.