Specifications: Fixed-term contract (12 months) – part time
Salary: £35,000 per annum full time equivalent (to be pro rated)
Location: Remote working (UK, Germany or Denmark)
Closing date:  9 August 2024
    
Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into five directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, Central Executive office and Finance and Corporate Services.

The Consumer Support Officer will work closely with Cochrane’s Consumer Engagement Manager to support the involvement of consumers (patients, carers and the public) in the Wellcome-funded Global Alliance for Living Evidence on aNxiety, depressiOn and pSychosis (GALENOS) project, including in systematic reviews about mental health topics. Support of consumers in this work will involve connecting consumers with lived experience of mental health challenges to researchers, developing learning resources to support consumer involvement in systematic reviews, and generally promoting patient and public involvement in the systematic review space.
      
Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values: Collaboration: Underpins everything we do, locally and globally. Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format. Integrity: Independent and transparent. Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust.

You can expect:

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.
• A flexible work environment
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations, and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply click here,  
• The deadline to receive your application is 9 August, 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Cochrane's strength lies in its collaborative, global community. Cochrane Geographic Groups represent Cochrane in their host countries, advocating for the use of Cochrane evidence in health policy and practice, and supporting Cochrane's members and supporters locally. Here, we spotlight the impactful work of Cochrane Iran, dedicated to increasing the use of best evidence to inform healthcare decision-making across Iran, the Middle East, and neighbouring regions. 

Established in 2017 at the National Insititute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), Cochrane Iran has swiftly become a pivotal part of Cochrane's global network. By aligning with Cochrane's strategy, Cochrane Iran has significantly expanded its membership, growing from 965 members in 2019 to over 2,100 by mid-2024. 

Cochrane Iran has been a leader in providing hands-on learning through 50 in-person and virtual training sessions and contributed in the nine Continuing Medication Education events, furthering professional development in evidence-based healthcare. They share Cochrane’s recorded online learning events on Aparat, a local video-sharing platform, where the 671 videos have attracted 42,573 views. They co-authored the 4th and 5th editions of the influential book Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, now a reference in national University courses. In collaboration with Iranian universities, they hosted five journal club sessions, promoting critical evaluation of research findings.

"Our mission at Cochrane Iran is to bridge the gap between research and practice by making high-quality evidence accessible and understandable. We believe that informed decision-making can transform healthcare outcomes across the Middle East."

— Dr. Farid Najafi, Director of Cochrane Iran

Cochrane Iran spearheaded the translation of numerous evidence-based resources, including:

• Over 6,000 abstracts and plain language summaries of Cochrane reviews.
• 72 podcasts explaining Cochrane evidence in under five minutes.
• 27  blogshots for social media that summarize Cochrane reviews.
• Persian Wikipedia pages related to medicine, such as asthma and influenza. 
• Testing Treatments book and audio clips, which champion critical thinking in healthcare.
• The Health Choices Book for children, fostersing critical thinking from a young age.
• Lifeology flashcard courses on preventing infodemics and empowering informed decision-making.
• World Evidence-Based Heathcare Day documents, promoting evidence-based healthcare globally annually.

Their advocacy and dissemination efforts extended to showcasing Cochrane and Cochrane Iran through 50 events and establishing a robust online presence on multiple platforms including Telegram, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn, engaging a large community and promoting evidence-based healthcare practices.

Cochrane Iran actively collaborated with the 10th Iranian National Epidemiology Congress in 2023, featuring a keynote speech by Cochrane CEO Catherine Spencer and leading a thematic panel on adapting WHO guidelines, evidence-based medicine, and Cochrane Iran's achievements. They also this year organised a citizen science challenge on Cochrane Crowd. Participants classified 78,692 records, identifying around 4,000 randomized controlled trials that will aid systematic reviewers worldwide in their research.

Cochrane Iran’s partnership with NIMAD has led to the launch of the Cochrane Evidence Synthesis in the Iranian Primary Health Care System project. This project has included the translation and local adaptation of the Cochrane Evidence Essentials training course, accessible on Iran's Ministry of Health's website, to promote evidence-based decision-making in primary healthcare settings and empower healthcare professionals with essential skills in evidence synthesis.

Their website, Barpaye, provides scientifically evaluated health claims, answering 49 user queries to date. They also sponsor the fact-checking website Factname Salamat, offering evidence-based answers to health-related questions and claims. 

"Through our collaborative efforts and the translation of essential healthcare resources, we are not only empowering healthcare professionals but also engaging the public in critical thinking about their health. This comprehensive approach is key to advancing evidence-based healthcare in Iran and beyond."

— Dr. Bita Mesgarpour, Co-Director of Cochrane Iran

Cochrane Iran remains dedicated to Cochrane’s vision of enhancing evidence-based healthcare quality and fostering collaboration within the research community. Through their continued efforts, they aim to significantly improve health outcomes and support informed decision-making in healthcare practices.

Cochrane Iran invites individuals and organisations to collaborate and support their mission of advancing evidence-based healthcare in the Middle East. Reach out to CochraneIran@gmail.com and explore the numerous opportunities to contribute to their impactful work. 

• Visit the Cochrane Iran website
• Search and view Cochrane evidence in Persian (Farsi)
• Follow Cochrane Iran on social media
  
  • Aparat
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Telegram
  • X
• Find a Cochrane Geographical Group in your country

Title: Managing Editor
Specifications: 12 Months Fixed Term Contract (x 3 posts)
Salary: £42,000 per annum
Location: UK, Germany or Denmark – Remote/Flexible
Directorate: Evidence Production & Method
Closing date: 26 July, 2024

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into five directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, Chief Executive Office and Finance and Corporate Services.

Reporting to the Senior Managing Editor and working with members of the Editorial Production and Methods Directorate, the role holder will need to have good awareness of Cochrane guidance for different types of standard and complex systematic reviews (intervention, qualitative, diagnostic test accuracy, prognosis, rapid and overview), plan how they will need to be handled in their team, and work to ensure that deadlines are met. The role holder will also be required to ensure that pilots aimed at innovating the editorial process can be supported as needed.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values:

Collaboration: Underpins everything we do, locally and globally.

Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format.

Integrity: Independent and transparent.

Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust.

You can expect:

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.
• A flexible work environment
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations, and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 26 July 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. 
•        Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Cochrane's strength lies in its collaborative, global community. Cochrane Geographic Groups represent Cochrane in their host countries, advocating for the use of Cochrane evidence in health policy and practice, and supporting Cochrane's members and supporters locally. Here, we spotlight the impactful work of Cochrane Hong Kong, dedicated to increasing the use of best evidence to inform healthcare decision-making across China and neighbouring regions.

Cochrane Hong Kong, officially established in 2019, is situated at The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. As part of the Cochrane China Network, Cochrane Hong Kong is one of eight affiliate groups across China. Today with over 800 members and supporters, they aim to expand the reach and impact of Cochrane evidence on healthcare practice and build capacity for high-quality evidence production.

Since 2022, Cochrane Hong Kong has led Cochrane Nursing, promoting nursing participation in evidence-based healthcare and actively disseminating Cochrane evidence to diverse nursing audiences. This ensures that nurses are aware of relevant Cochrane reviews that can inform their practice. They run the @CochraneNursing X account to share new evidence, supporting members in their engagement with Cochrane and enhancing the dissemination of evidence in nursing both in the broader Asian region and globally.

The group's translation efforts significantly impact healthcare practices and policies in Hong Kong and across Asia, ensuring that medical professionals and the general population have access to high-quality, evidence-based information. In collaboration with the Cochrane China Network and Cochrane Taiwan, they translate plain language summaries of Cochrane reviews into both simplified and traditional Chinese. Currently, there are 2327 plain language summaries in traditional Chinese and  3842 plain language summaries in simplified Chinese for anyone to search and read, making vital health information more accessible.

In 2022, Cochrane Hong Kong hosted the Knowledge Translation Awards, encouraging global university students to engage in knowledge translation and evidence dissemination. The event concluded with a virtual presentation ceremony to honour the awardees for their innovative contributions to advancing knowledge translation and evidence-based practice. "Cochrane Hong Kong's dedication to translating and disseminating evidence is making a significant impact on healthcare practices in China and beyond," says Professor Wai-tong Chien, Co-Director of Cochrane Hong Kong.

Cochrane Hong Kong offers comprehensive training in systematic reviews and evidence production, empowering health professionals and postgraduate students to conduct high-quality reviews. Their workshops during the 1st Cochrane Hong Kong Symposium and the 7th Pan-Pacific Nursing Conference attracted over 300 delegates. Collaborations with other Cochrane groups and external organisations significantly enhance their impact. In January 2023, they co-organised the 2nd Cochrane China Network Symposium, bringing together global healthcare researchers and experts. They also partnered with Southern Medical University for the 2023 Global Health South Forum and The First Pearl River Implementation Science Symposium (PRISIS).

Cochrane Hong Kong collaborates with the Hospital Authority Hong Kong, which governs all public hospitals in the region. They offer workshops and training on systematic reviews and evidence production. Currently, they are conducting a clinical trial to evaluate an evidence-based detection method for ensuring the correct placement of nasogastric tubes across public hospitals. This partnership aims to enhance evidence-based healthcare decisions, improve clinical practices, and establish or revise standards, guidelines, and policies to ensure the highest quality of care for patients.

Looking ahead, Cochrane Hong Kong will continue producing, translating, and disseminating Cochrane evidence. They will collaborate with healthcare institutions and Cochrane organisations to provide more workshops on evidence-based practice. "Cochrane Hong Kong's future projects will continue to build on our strong foundation, advancing evidence-informed decision-making and improving healthcare outcomes across Asia," notes Professor Janita Chau, Co-Director of Cochrane Hong Kong and Co-Chair of Cochrane Nursing. "We are particularly excited about our upcoming training workshops and fellowship programmes, which will help create the next generation of leaders in evidence-based healthcare."

Cochrane Hong Kong invites individuals and organisations in Asia that are eager to impact healthcare to collaborate and offer their support. If you are interested in contributing to their mission, please reach out at cochranehk@cuhk.edu.hk. There are numerous opportunities to engage and contribute to evidence-based healthcare!

• Visit the Cochrane Hong Kong website
• Visit the Cochrane Nursing Field website
• Search and view Cochrane evidence in simplified Chinese
• Search and view Cochrane evidence in traditional Chinese
• Find a Cochrane Geographic Group in your country

Global leaders in evidence-based healthcare - JBI, Cochrane, Campbell Collaboration, AHRU at the University of Oxford, and Institute of Development Studies (IDS) - have joined forces to launch the World Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC) Day 2024 campaign: "Health and Beyond: From Evidence to Action."

The World EBHC Day 2024 campaign seeks to galvanise the global evidence community in addressing the interconnected crises facing humanity. These simultaneous and interconnected crises, or ‘polycrisis’, threaten the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the well-being of people worldwide.

In the face of escalating social, economic, and ecological challenges, the 2024 campaign underscores the need for greater intersectoral action and collaboration to build resilient evidence support systems.

“In a time of ongoing crises, World EBHC Day 2024 presents an important opportunity to bring together the global evidence community to find solutions collaboratively. Cochrane is pleased to be a partner and aims to ensure that momentum from the campaign continues, as there is much to be done to build a healthier world for future generations,” said Catherine Spencer, Cochrane Chief Executive Officer. 

The World EBHC Day 2024 campaign calls on organisations and individuals to share their experiences, innovations, and lessons learned in using evidence-based approaches to drive meaningful change. By facilitating dialogue and knowledge-sharing across sectors, World EBHC Day 2024 serves as a global platform to share and access collective knowledge and wisdom for health and beyond, moving from evidence to action, while highlighting that interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation is pivotal to transformative change.

 Cochrane’s Editor-in-Chief, Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, also shared her enthusiasm for the campaign: “World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day 2024 demonstrates how it is essential to co-create solutions for the complex global challenges of our time. This aligns with the work we have been doing at Cochrane to develop our new Scientific Strategy, which will be published later this year.” 

JBI, Cochrane, The Campbell Collaboration, AHRU at University of Oxford and IDS call on the global evidence community to share their experiences, challenges, innovations, lessons learned, and promising failures in using evidence-based approaches to take action for health and beyond. 

• For more information on the World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day 2024 campaign and how to participate please visit https://worldebhcday.org 
• If you are interested in writing a blog or recording a vlog for World EBHC Day 2024, please get in touch with msalman@cochrane.org

About World EBHC Day: World Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC) Day is held on 20 October each year. It is a global initiative that was founded by JBI that raises awareness of the need for better evidence to inform healthcare policy, practice and decision making in order to improve health outcomes globally. It is an opportunity to participate in debate about global trends and challenges, but also to celebrate the impact of individuals and organisations worldwide, recognising the work of dedicated researchers, policymakers and health professionals in improving health outcomes.  For more information, please visit www.worldebhcday.org

We are pleased to share that Cochrane has recently signed a formal collaboration agreement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). 

PAHO is the specialized international health agency for the Americas. It works with countries throughout the region to improve and protect people's health and serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The collaboration agreement aims to enhance collaboration and networking between Cochrane and PAHO, facilitating joint initiatives. Specifically, the agreement intends to support the production and use of evidence on shared priority topics and to enhance methodological capacity in the region. This will align with and contribute to Cochrane’s forthcoming Scientific Strategy. 

Earlier this year, Cochrane’s Editor in Chief, Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, met with the Director of PAHO, Dr Jarbas Barbosa, and Assistant Director Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas at the WHO Executive Board meeting. During the meeting, they discussed how collaborative efforts under this new agreement could advance mutual strategic objectives. 

Cochrane has a long history of working with PAHO to support health decision-making in the Americas, primarily through the provision of training, workshops and expert advice by Cochrane groups and contributors. The new collaboration agreement aims to build on and enhance this longstanding relationship to address current and future health challenges facing the region. 

Cochrane’s CEO, Catherine Spencer, expressed her enthusiasm for this next phase of the partnership: “This new agreement is a major step forward in strengthening Cochrane’s relationship with PAHO. We are eager to leverage Cochrane’s expertise to support PAHO in addressing the key health challenges affecting the Americas, enhancing the relevance and impact of our work.”

• Learn more about Cochrane's partnerships
• For more information on the work that Cochrane does with PAHO and WHO, please get in touch

The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) is working on a publication to review the opportunities digital health solutions present in relation to climate change. To speed up the process, the Organization has teamed up with Cochrane Crowd for a task to classify related studies. Open to all, this citizen science initiative invites volunteers to review and identify key studies, aiding WHO/Europe to research the impact of digital solutions on climate-related health issues.

“Conducting horizon-scanning to identify promising digital health solutions that can help shape public health is among key priorities for us at WHO/Europe. In addition to benefiting healthcare in a digital era, this initiative promotes preparedness amid the climate crisis,” said Dr. David Novillo Ortiz, Regional Adviser for Data and Digital Health at WHO/Europe.

New task: digital health technology and climate change
Cochrane Crowd has launched a call to participate in a special task requested by WHO/Europe. This task aims to identify key digital health technologies used to manage or mitigate climate-change-related health problems and to reduce the health sector’s carbon footprint. With over 18,000 search results to assess, we need your help!

Digital health technologies leverage information and communication technology to enhance human health, healthcare services, and wellness. Examples include mobile apps, virtual medical appointments, fitness trackers, and virtual reality training for medical procedures. A specialized training module will provide more examples.

A global community of volunteers
Cochrane Crowd is a global community of volunteers dedicated to classifying research necessary for informed decision-making in healthcare. Volunteers review descriptions of research studies to identify and classify healthcare research studies. These efforts help Cochrane reviewers and other healthcare researchers worldwide find high-quality evidence about treatments and healthcare interventions.

Anna Noel-Storr, manager of the Cochrane Crowd platform, says: “Cochrane has been in official relations with WHO since 2011. This task is particularly exciting for us on the Cochrane Crowd team as it’s the first crowd task we’ve done in partnership with the WHO. I hope it’s the first of many, as I know our brilliant Crowd community will relish the opportunity to directly contribute to global health research and make a meaningful impact on climate change."

Contributing to Cochrane Crowd is free and doesn't require any prior experience in healthcare research. By joining, volunteers can build skills in evidence assessment, stay updated on the latest research, and contribute to the global healthcare community. Online training is provided, and all contributions are welcome, from a few minutes a day to more focused periods.

Participation in Cochrane Crowd offers numerous benefits, including the opportunity to earn named acknowledgement in the WHO review and a chance to gain Cochrane membership. Volunteers can also enhance their skills through training and review past decisions to improve accuracy.

"The WHO-Cochrane Crowd collaboration is a great opportunity to contribute to climate action. By identifying the most effective digital health solutions, we can advance research and empower people to protect their health,” said Dr. Israel Junior Borges do Nascimento, WHO consultant and lead author.

The task will be live throughout July 2024. To take part, head to Cochrane Crowd and log in or sign up. Once logged in, click on the ‘Tasks’ panel. You should then see the task “Digital health technology and climate change”.

• Visit the Cochrane Crowd 

Specifications: Permanent – Full time
Salary: £63,000 per annum
Location: Remote working (UK office located in Central London)
Closing date:  4 July 2024

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into five directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, Chief Executive Office and Finance and Corporate Services.

This role is to support and collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team and CEO, on people management issues across the Central Executive Team (CET) worker life cycle.  The job holder will develop and lead in the delivery of the global HR strategy aligned with Cochrane’s strategic ambitions.  This will be achieved by setting the strategic direction for the HR function and leading the HR team in providing and effective and efficient HR function.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values:

Collaboration: Underpins everything we do, locally and globally.

Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format.

Integrity: Independent and transparent.

Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust.

You can expect:

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.
• A flexible work environment
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations, and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and click “how to apply”.
• The deadline to receive your application is 4 July, 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Cochrane, JBI, Guidelines International Network (GIN), and The Campbell Collaboration are set to host the second Global Evidence Summit (GES) in the historic city of Prague from 10 to 13 September 2024. This summit will bring together professionals from various sectors, including health, education, social justice, environment, and climate change, to discuss and inform policy and practice through evidence. Registration is still open.

With approximately 70 long oral presentations, 456 short oral presentations, 60 workshops, 25 special sessions, and 1000+ posters accepted this year, they will be a cornerstone of the GES programme, facilitating deep exploration of topics and encouraging future collaborations. Emphasising accessible presentations and posters aims to enhance knowledge transfer, particularly for non-native English speakers and individuals facing challenges related to disabilities or neurodivergence.

This year, GES introduces innovative poster and PowerPoint presentation designs based on the work of a diverse team from IPG Health (Emily Messina, James Wells, Noofa Hannan, and Anja Petersen), Zen Faulkes, author of Better Posters, and Mike Morrison, the psychologist behind the viral #BetterPoster movement. These templates incorporate the latest research in instructional design, accessibility, and eye tracking. Tested at the Cochrane Colloquium 2023, the poster templates received positive feedback for improving engagement and communication. Attendees found the posters with large figures and minimal text to be more engaging, memorable, and easier to understand.

Mike Morrison commented on the initiative, saying, "These poster and presentation templates are a significant step towards making scientific communication more insightful for attendees, more impactful for presenters, and more accessible to everyone. We know from several studies — including 'real world' testing at last year's Cochrane colloquium — that these templates make a difference, and I am excited to see their reach expand further at the GES."

Cochrane CEO Catherine Spencer added, "We are thrilled to adopt these templates at the Global Evidence Summit. This initiative underscores Cochrane's commitment to enhancing the dissemination of evidence and fostering impactful discussions. We believe these evidenced-based templates will significantly improve the experience for all participants." Cochrane members are reminded that they can request Cochrane group logos from support@cochrane.org, colour codes for groups are on page 81 of the brand guidelines, and there is picture selection guidance available.

Everyone is encouraged to download and adapt the free poster and presentation templates for their own use, whether presenting at the GES or any other academic event.

• Download the poster template
• Learn more about posters at GES
• Download the presentation template
• Learn more about presentations at GES

A new Cochrane review highlights the significant association between undernutrition and tuberculosis (TB) disease, shedding light on its prognostic value in predicting TB incidence among adults, adolescents, and children.

The review, which analyzed data from 51 cohort studies involving over 27 million participants across diverse settings, reveals that undernutrition probably doubles the risk of TB disease. This association, particularly evident within 10 years from the onset of undernutrition, underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address undernutrition as part of broader TB prevention strategies.

Undernutrition, characterized by factors such as low body mass index (BMI) emerges as a key risk factor for TB infection and progression. Malnutrition compromises the immune system, reducing the body's ability to fight off infections, including TB. Individuals who are malnourished have weakened immune responses, making them more susceptible to the TB bacterium and less capable of containing latent infections. In 2022 alone, undernutrition contributed to an estimated 2.2 million TB cases worldwide, as documented in the World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis Report.

Lead author of the review and lead of the Cochrane evidence synthesis group at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Juan Franco, says, “By quantifying this risk, we can more accurately estimate the burden of TB disease attributable to undernutrition. This information informs the planning of policies based on the burden of risk factors across different regions of the world.”

The impact of quantifying the relationship between undernutrition and TB provides evidence-based guidance for policymakers to allocate resources effectively, design targeted interventions, and implement comprehensive TB prevention strategies. For doctors and patients, it highlights the importance of nutritional assessments and interventions in TB care and prevention.

The findings from the review suggest that public health policies in countries with high TB burdens must prioritize nutritional support as a core component of TB control programs.

“By addressing undernutrition, these policies can reduce TB incidence, improve treatment outcomes, and contribute to overall health improvements in these populations,” Franco notes.

Despite the clear link between undernutrition and TB disease risk, challenges persist in standardizing diagnostic methods and accounting for confounding factors. The review emphasizes the importance of ongoing research, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to obtain accurate estimates of undernutrition's impact on TB across different populations and settings.

Juan Franco emphasizes the vital role of international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WHO TB Programme, in implementing the review’s findings. "Evidence-based policies addressing food insecurity and malnutrition are urgently needed," he explains. 

"Undernutrition manifests differently worldwide, influenced by various social determinants of health. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but addressing societal inequalities is always a good starting point. Treating undernutrition, along with reducing other TB risk factors, is essential not only to lower the TB burden but also to achieve overall well-being." 

By focusing on the dual burden of undernutrition and TB, this Cochrane review underscores the importance of integrating nutritional support into TB control programs to achieve better health outcomes globally.