The Impact of the Reorganisation of the Phthisiology Service During the Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) Epidemic and Russia’s Full-Scale Military Aggression Against Ukraine on the Development of Tuberculosis Relapses in North-Eastern Slobozhanshchyn

Objective — to analyse the frequency and prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis relapses in the north-eastern region of Ukraine for the period 2013—2024 based on key epidemiological indicators, taking into account their changes due to the reorganisation processes of the phthisiology service under the extreme conditions of the coronavirus epidemic and the full-scale war. Materials and methods. A total of 1,660 patients with recurrent forms of pulmonary tuberculosis were under our observation. The patients were divided into two groups based on the time of relapse detection: group 1 — 2013–2018 (before the reorganisation of the phthisiology service), and group 2 — 2019–2024 (during the COVID-19 epidemic and the full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation). Key epidemiological indicators of tuberculosis were analysed. Results and discussion. Among patients with relapses of pulmonary tuberculosis, there were 5.1 times more males than females (p < 0.05). The highest incidence was registered among people of working age (25—64 years). Among the patients, 1052 (63.37 %) lived in urban areas, and 608 (36.62 %), which is 1.7 times fewer (p < 0.05), lived in rural areas. In the first group, relapses of tuberculosis were registered in 989 people, and in the second group — in 671 people, which is 1.4 times fewer (p < 0.05). Conclusions. During 2013—2024 1,660 people were diagnosed with relapses pulmonary tuberculosis in Sumy region. Most of them were males of working age. The majority of patients with relapses of tubercu­losis were recorded among people of working age. The number of relapse cases among the urban population exceeded that of the rural population. Since 2016, the number of detected patients with tuberculosis relapses has gradually decreased, with the greatest decline occurring during the coronavirus epidemic (2020—2022). Since 2023, the number of relapse cases has increased.