Objective:

To evaluate the cardiometabolic health of young people (12–30 years) with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) compared to matched peers uninfected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), highlighting the significance of understanding this relationship.

Key Findings:

• Older adolescents and young adults with LTBI had higher inflammation markers (C-reactive protein and ferritin) compared to uninfected peers, suggesting a potential risk factor for future health issues.
• No significant differences were found in fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, or diabetes/prediabetes prevalence between LTBI and uninfected groups.
• Cardiometabolic profiles were similar between LTBI cases and controls, indicating a need for further investigation into long-term health outcomes.

Interpretation:

While LTBI is associated with increased inflammation in older adolescents and young adults, it does not appear to correlate with adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in this age group, differing from findings in adults, which may suggest age-related differences in disease impact.

Limitations:

• The study is observational and cannot establish causation, which limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions.
• The sample size for LTBI cases was relatively small, potentially affecting the robustness of the findings.
• Data were cross-sectional, limiting the ability to assess long-term health impacts and the temporal relationship between LTBI and cardiometabolic health.

Conclusion:

Mtb infection in young people may not be linked to cardiometabolic derangement, but the implications of chronic inflammation warrant further investigation, particularly in understanding protective factors.