Overview

Addressing
comorbidities and risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) is a crucial component of
the World Health Organization (WHO)’s End
TB Strategy. This WHO Operational Handbook on Tuberculosis, Module 6:
Tuberculosis and Comorbidities aims to support countries in scaling up
people-centred care, based on the latest WHO recommendations on TB and key
comorbidities, and drawing upon additional evidence, best practices and inputs
from various experts and stakeholders obtained during WHO processes. It is intended for use by people working in ministries of
health, particularly TB programmes and the relevant departments or programmes
responsible for comorbidities and health-related risk factors for TB such as HIV, diabetes,
undernutrition, substance use, and tobacco use, as well as programmes addressing
mental health and lung health.

This operational handbook
is a living document and will include a separate
chapter for each of the key TB comorbidities or health-related risk factors.
The first section focuses on mental
health conditions which are widely recognized as a major health issue among
people affected by TB, negatively impacting on TB treatment outcomes, health-related
quality of life, and also increasingly recognized as a major cause of TB-associated
disability. This section aims to facilitate early detection, proper assessment and adequate referral of people
affected by TB and mental disorders. Full
implementation of this guidance is expected to have a significant impact on TB treatment outcomes and health-related
quality of life for people affected by TB.