Epidemiological Monitoring of Tuberculosis Among Military Personnel in Ukraine: the Impact of the War and Key Priorities for the Development of the National Tuberculosis Prevention Program

Introduction. The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and severely damaged the healthcare infrastructure, which had already been weakened in recent years by the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a new threat to the fight against tuberculosis. The incidence of tuberculosis within the Armed Forces has increased, mirroring the broader trends of rising tuberculosis rates across Ukraine.Problem Statement. In light of the difficult epidemic situation with tuberculosis globally, in Ukraine, and within its Armed Forces, the issues of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis have become extremely urgent.Purpose. The aim of this study is to analyze the specific developments in tuberculosis infection among military personnel and the need for the implementation of innovative measures for its prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. Materials and Methods. The materials for this study included reports on tuberculosis incidence from 2017 to 2023 among servicemen within the administrative territorial zones of responsibility, as determined by the Regional Sanitary and Epidemiological Department of the Command of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Analytical and epidemiological methods, as well as mathematical modeling techniques, have been applied.Results. The relationship between the increase in tuberculosis incidence among the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the armed aggression by the Russian Federation was highlighted. From 2021 to 2023, a sharp increase in military personnel illness rates was observed, rising from 0.2‰ to 1.82‰. The morbidity ratio in 2023 compared to 2022 was 170.09%. The predicted incidence rate for 2024 is 1.42‰ (unfavorable).Conclusions. Ensuring effective treatment for tuberculosis, particularly multi-drug resistant forms, through the use of innovative early diagnosis methods, is one of the primary objectives for domestic medicine. Additionally, identifying cofactors contributing to tuberculosis development remains a crucial task.