Depression Prevalence in Persons having Tuberculosis in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Depression can negatively impact the quality of life, treatment compliance, and prognosis in tuberculosis (TB) patients. India accounts for one-third of the TB population worldwide. Our study aimed to find the prevalence of depression in TB patients in India. PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS were searched to identify Indian studies reporting the prevalence of depression in patients with TB. Pooled estimates were obtained using a generalized linear mixed model with a logit link function. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Cochran’s Q test and I 2 were utilized to assess heterogeneity. The Luis Furuya–Kanamori index assessed publication bias, whereas the quality of studies was evaluated by the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Nineteen studies with 3,462 participants were included, with depression prevalence in TB patients ranging from 12% to 95%, and a pooled prevalence of 48% [95% confidence interval (CI): 36, 60%]. Prevalence was higher in drug-resistant TB, 60% [95% CI: 21, 89%], compared to drug-sensitive TB, 41% [95% CI: 23, 62%]. It was also higher with the self-rated scales than with the clinician-rated scales, as well as in unmarried than in married TB patients. By contrast, depression prevalence was nearly identical in women and men. The prevalence of depression among individuals with TB in India is substantial. Given this considerable burden, integrating routine mental health screening and support into TB care may be beneficial and should be further explored in policy and practice.