Age-Specific Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission Dynamics in South Korea

Korea has the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Various strategies have been implemented to eradicate TB in Korea, and it is critical to evaluate previous TB management outcomes before framing future TB policies. Over the past...

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Main Authors: Sunmi Lee, Hae-Young Park, Hohyung Ryu, Jin-Won Kwon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
Series:Mathematics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/9/8/804
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author Sunmi Lee
Hae-Young Park
Hohyung Ryu
Jin-Won Kwon
author_facet Sunmi Lee
Hae-Young Park
Hohyung Ryu
Jin-Won Kwon
author_sort Sunmi Lee
collection DOAJ
description Korea has the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Various strategies have been implemented to eradicate TB in Korea, and it is critical to evaluate previous TB management outcomes before framing future TB policies. Over the past few decades, the rapid increase in the aging population in Korea has substantially impacted the incidence of TB among the elderly. Thus, in this study, we aimed to develop a mathematical model for the assessment of TB management outcomes incorporating special features of TB transmission dynamics in Korea. First, we incorporate 2-age groups in our TB model because TB epidemics in Korea are different between the elderly and the non-elderly (<65 years vs. ≥65 years). Second, because the public-private mix has had a full-fledged impact since 2012, this study was divided into two periods (2001–2011 and 2012–2018). We developed a mathematical model of TB transmission dynamics with 2-age groups and age-specific model parameters were estimated based on actual TB epidemic data from 2001 to 2018. These parameters included transmission rates, relapse rates, and recovery rates. We conducted sensitivity analyses of various parameters, and investigated the impacts of these parameters on TB incidence. Our results demonstrate that the overall outcomes of both age-groups improved in the period of 2012–2018 compared with that in the period of 2001–2011. Age-specific interventions should be implemented to reduce the overall TB incidence. More intensive treatment efforts should be focused on the elderly, while the early detection and treatment rates for latent TB were the most significant factor to reduce TB incidence in both groups.
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spelling doaj.art-c1fc17d4bbce41f3a9c552a0313bacc12023-11-21T14:33:03ZengMDPI AGMathematics2227-73902021-04-019880410.3390/math9080804Age-Specific Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission Dynamics in South KoreaSunmi Lee0Hae-Young Park1Hohyung Ryu2Jin-Won Kwon3Department of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, KoreaBK21 FOUR Community-Based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaDepartment of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, KoreaBK21 FOUR Community-Based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaKorea has the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Various strategies have been implemented to eradicate TB in Korea, and it is critical to evaluate previous TB management outcomes before framing future TB policies. Over the past few decades, the rapid increase in the aging population in Korea has substantially impacted the incidence of TB among the elderly. Thus, in this study, we aimed to develop a mathematical model for the assessment of TB management outcomes incorporating special features of TB transmission dynamics in Korea. First, we incorporate 2-age groups in our TB model because TB epidemics in Korea are different between the elderly and the non-elderly (<65 years vs. ≥65 years). Second, because the public-private mix has had a full-fledged impact since 2012, this study was divided into two periods (2001–2011 and 2012–2018). We developed a mathematical model of TB transmission dynamics with 2-age groups and age-specific model parameters were estimated based on actual TB epidemic data from 2001 to 2018. These parameters included transmission rates, relapse rates, and recovery rates. We conducted sensitivity analyses of various parameters, and investigated the impacts of these parameters on TB incidence. Our results demonstrate that the overall outcomes of both age-groups improved in the period of 2012–2018 compared with that in the period of 2001–2011. Age-specific interventions should be implemented to reduce the overall TB incidence. More intensive treatment efforts should be focused on the elderly, while the early detection and treatment rates for latent TB were the most significant factor to reduce TB incidence in both groups.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/9/8/804TB mathematical model with two-age groupstransmission ratetreatment rateearly detection and treatment raterelapse ratethe basic reproduction number
spellingShingle Sunmi Lee
Hae-Young Park
Hohyung Ryu
Jin-Won Kwon
Age-Specific Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission Dynamics in South Korea
Mathematics
TB mathematical model with two-age groups
transmission rate
treatment rate
early detection and treatment rate
relapse rate
the basic reproduction number
title Age-Specific Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission Dynamics in South Korea
title_full Age-Specific Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission Dynamics in South Korea
title_fullStr Age-Specific Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission Dynamics in South Korea
title_full_unstemmed Age-Specific Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission Dynamics in South Korea
title_short Age-Specific Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission Dynamics in South Korea
title_sort age specific mathematical model for tuberculosis transmission dynamics in south korea
topic TB mathematical model with two-age groups
transmission rate
treatment rate
early detection and treatment rate
relapse rate
the basic reproduction number
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/9/8/804
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