Biography

Hsien-Ho Lin is an epidemiologist based in National Taiwan University. His team has been studying risk factors and determinants of tuberculosis, including tobacco smoking, diabetes, and air pollution, using population-based cohort studies and meta-analysis. Building on evidence from these epidemiological studies and epidemic theory of infectious diseases, they investigated population-level impact of changing risk factors on future tuberculosis epidemiology, the interaction between chronic disease epidemiology and tuberculosis epidemiology, and methodological issues when conducting such studies. They are currently conducting a large population-based tuberculosis cohort study combining whole genome sequencing, public health information, and geographic information system to understand the transmission of tuberculosis in Taiwan.

Expertise

TB Diagnostics
Public Health

Key Impacts

Tuberculosis transmission among older adults in Southern Taiwan

Our findings suggest that older adults play a significant role in TB transmission not only as recipients but also as potential sources of transmission. Understanding transmission dynamics within this age group and across age groups, particularly in settings with aging populations, is crucial for designing effective, age-targeted control strategies.

Source: Conference 2024
Quantifying lifetime mortality burden following active TB: A matched cohort study in Taiwan

We estimated the lifetime YLL associated with active tuberculosis in the intermediate burden setting of Taiwan. Future work incorporating nonfatal health loss will enable a more comprehensive assessment of the lifetime burden of active tuberculosis.

Source: Conference 2024