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Tuberculosis and the Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Authors:

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in tuberculosis (TB) survivors. Methods: We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. TB survivors (n = 60,602) and their 1:1 age- and sex-matched controls (n = 60,602) were enrolled. Eligible participants were followed up from 1 year after their TB diagnosis to the date of an IHD event, date of death, or the end of the study period (December 31, 2018), whichever came first. The risk of IHD was estimated using a Cox proportional hazards regression, and stratified analyses were performed for related factors. Among IHD events, we additionally analyzed for myocardial infarction (MI). Results: During a median of 3.9 years of follow-up, 2.7% of TB survivors (1,633/60,602) and 2.0% of the matched controls (1,228/60,602) developed IHD, and 0.6% of TB patients (341/60,602) and 0.4% of the matched controls (223/60,602) developed MI. The overall risk of developing IHD and MI was higher in TB patients (adjusted hazard [aHR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.12-1.32 for IHD and aHR 1.48, 95% CI 1.23-1.78 for MI) than in the matched controls. Stratified analyses showed that TB survivors have an increased risk of IHD and MI regardless of income, place of residence, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, and Charlson comorbidity index. Conclusions: TB survivors have a higher risk of IHD than matched controls. Strategies are needed to reduce the burden of IHD in TB survivors.
Clinical Infectious Diseases
RESEARCH ARTICLE
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 1
Tuberculosis and the Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease: A
Nationwide Cohort Study
Han Rim Lee, MD1, Jung Eun Yoo, MD, PhD2, Hayoung Choi, MD, PhD3, Kyungdo Han,
PhD4, Young-Hyo Lim, MD, PhD5, Hyun Lee, MD, PhD6*, Dong Wook Shin, MD, PhD,
MBA
1
,7*
1 Department of Family Medicine & Supportive Care Center, Samsung Medical Center,
Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2 Department of
Family Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center Seoul National University Hospital,
Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine,
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym
University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 4 Department of Statistics and
Actuarial Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 5 Division of Cardiology,
Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang Medical Center, Hanyang University College of
Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 6 Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy, Department
————————————————————————————————————————
*These authors contributed equally as co-corresponding authors.
*Co-Corresponding authors: Dong Wook Shin, MD, DrPH, MBA Department of Family
Medicine/Supportive Care Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of
Medicine Department of Clinical Research Design & Evaluation/ Department of Digital Health, Samsung
Advanced Institute for Health Science & Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University 81 Irwon-
Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea Tel: 82-2-3410-5252; Fax: 82-2-3410-0388; E-
mail: dwshin.md@gmail.com
and
Hyun Lee, MD, PhD Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine,
Hanyang Medical Center, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 222-1
Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea Tel: 02-2290-8350; Fax: 02-2292-1477;
E-mail: namuhanayeyo@naver.com
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of
America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com This article
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DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 2
of Internal Medicine, Hanyang Medical Center, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul,
Republic of Korea; 7 Department of Clinical Research Design & Evaluation, Samsung Advanced
Institute for Health Science & Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul,
Republic of Korea
Background: Little is known about the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in tuberculosis (TB)
survivors.
Methods: We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study using the Korean
National Health Insurance Service database. TB survivors (n = 60,602) and their 1:1 age- and
sex-matched controls (n = 60,602) were enrolled. Eligible participants were followed up from 1
year after their TB diagnosis to the date of an IHD event, date of death, or the end of the study
period (December 31, 2018), whichever came first. The risk of IHD was estimated using a Cox
proportional hazards regression, and stratified analyses were performed for related factors.
Among IHD events, we additionally analyzed for myocardial infarction (MI).
Results: During a median of 3.9 years of follow-up, 2.7% of TB survivors (1,633/60,602) and
2.0% of the matched controls (1,228/60,602) developed IHD, and 0.6% of TB patients
(341/60,602) and 0.4% of the matched controls (223/60,602) developed MI. The overall risk of
developing IHD and MI was higher in TB patients (adjusted hazard [aHR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.12
1.32 for IHD and aHR 1.48, 95% CI 1.231.78 for MI) than in the matched controls. Stratified
analyses showed that TB survivors have an increased risk of IHD and MI regardless of income,
place of residence, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, and
Charlson comorbidity index.
Conclusions: TB survivors have a higher risk of IHD than matched controls. Strategies are
needed to reduce the burden of IHD in TB survivors.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Ischemic heart disease, Myocardial infarction, Retrospective cohort
INTRODUCTION
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern worldwide. Approximately 10 million people
were estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 1.5 million TB-related
deaths were reported in 2020.[1] As the survival rate after TB treatment increases, there is a
growing need to consider how to manage the long-term health of TB survivors.[2-15] If the End
TB Strategy’s goal of 95% reduction in TB mortality by 2035 is achieved,[16] we predict that
long-term management of TB survivors will be of increasing importance.
Recently, it has been shown that TB-induced inflammation does not end after treatment for
active TB but can persist, causing chronic inflammation in TB survivors.[17, 18] Therefore, in
addition to pulmonary sequelae,[6, 7, 9, 10] TB is also associated with chronic, non-pulmonary
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diseases such as ischemic stroke, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus.[4, 5, 8, 12] In
addition, the long-term mortality of TB survivors is higher than that in the general population.[3,
11]
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major component of cardiovascular disease, which is a
common cause of morbidity and mortality.[19] IHD comprises a large spectrum of clinical
conditions, including chronic coronary syndrome (e.g., stable angina), acute coronary syndrome
(e.g., unstable angina), and myocardial infarction (MI) with and without ST elevation. The global
health burden of IHD has risen steadily since 1990, reaching 197 million cases and 9.14 million
deaths in 2019.[20] MI is a leading cause of mortality despite significant progress in its
management.[21] Because MI causes irreversible damage to cardiomyocytes and can have
serious complications, it causes a heavy global burden. The known risk factors of IHD include
smoking, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension,[22, 23] and inflammation caused by
infectious pathogens has been linked to atherosclerosis, which is also a major mechanism in
IHD.[24]
Among infectious conditions, previous studies have shown that TB survivors are more
susceptible to developing IHD than controls.[13-15] However, those results had limited value
because some of those studies didn’t consider potential confounding factors such as smoking
status, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and socioeconomic status,[13, 15] and other
studies evaluated only a small number of subjects.[14, 15] Accordingly, studies that
comprehensively evaluate potential biases are needed to confirm the risk of IHD in TB survivors
In this study, we compare the risk of IHD between TB survivors and matched controls drawn
from a large nationally representative database in Korea.
METHODS
Data source and study setting
We used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS), a mandatory
universal public health insurance system that covers approximately 97% of the Korean
population and provides medical aid to the 3% of the population in the lowest income bracket.
The KNHIS also provides biennial national cardiovascular health screenings for all Koreans aged
40 and older and all employees regardless of age.[25] The KNHIS database contains
demographic data (e.g., age, sex, income, place of residence, and type of eligibility), claims data
(general information on specifications, consultation statements, diagnostic codes from the
International Classification of Disease 10th revision (ICD-10), and prescription records), health
check-up data, and death information about all enrolled Koreans.[25] During health screenings,
KNHIS study participants complete self-administered questionnaires about lifestyle factors (e.g.,
alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity) and medical and family history and
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DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 4
undergo anthropometric measurements (blood pressure, body weight, and height) and laboratory
tests (blood glucose, lipid profile, serum creatinine).
This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Hanyang University
Hospital (IRB No. HYUH 2022-06-026). The review board waived written informed consent
because the data are public and anonymized under confidentiality guidelines.
Study population
TB survivors were defined by the following criteria: 1) patients with two or more healthcare uses
(outpatient visits, emergency department visits, or hospitalizations) with the ICD-10 codes
associated with active TB (A15A19, U88.0U88.1) and specific insurance codes (V206, V246,
and V000) and 2) patients who were prescribed two or more anti-TB drugs (isoniazid, rifampin,
ethambutol, pyrazinamide, cycloserine, and para-aminosalicylate) for at least 90 days.[26] In
Korea, the specific insurance codes for active TB are automatically applied to patients after a
diagnosis of active TB, independent of the ICD-10 codes. Once patients receive the specific
insurance codes for TB, they receive additional insurance coverage during TB treatment to
reduce the burden of TB on the nation. Thus, the validity of the specific KNHIS codes for active
TB is strictly reviewed by the health insurance review and assessment service.
We collected data for 231,984 people who were diagnosed with TB between 2010 and 2017.
After excluding 26,928 patients with multidrug-resistant TB (ICD-10 U88.0U88.1, n=1,088) or
those who were treated incompletely (treatment duration <156 days, n=25,950) (110 cases met
both criteria), data for 205,056 TB survivors were available.
Among them, 95,294 had undergone a health screening within 2 years before their TB diagnosis.
We excluded patients with missing data (n=854), those who died within 1 year after their TB
diagnosis (n=1,456), those who were younger than 20 years (n=87), those who had previously
been diagnosed with IHD (ICD-10 I20-25) (n=21,701), or those who were diagnosed with IHD
within 1 year of TB diagnosis (n=647) to avoid the effects of a temporal relationship and
minimize the possibility of reverse causality.[27, 28]
We obtained an initial control pool of 1 million who were matched approximately 1:5 to the
205,056 TB survivors. We used birth year and sex to match the TB cases diagnosed in each year
with controls who were alive until the end of that year. The matched controls were assigned an
index date equivalent to the date of TB diagnosis for the matched TB survivors. Among the
controls, 418,880 had received a health screening within 2 years before the index date, and they
were sorted using the same exclusion criteria applied to the TB cases (i.e., no missing data, IHD
before the index date, and death or IHD within 1 year after the index date). Then 1:1 age and sex
matching with the TB survivors was made for the final analyses. In that way, 60,602 TB
survivors and 60,602 matched controls were included in the present study (Figure 1).
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Study outcomes and follow up
The primary endpoint of this study was IHD newly diagnosed during the follow-up period. IHD
was defined as a hospitalization record with ICD-10 codes I2025. We further analyzed for MI,
which was defined as a hospitalization record with ICD-10 codes I21 and I22.[29] Because we
wanted to evaluate the long-term risk of IHD in TB survivors, the study population was followed
up from 1 year after the index date to the date of IHD development, date of death, or the end of
the study period (December 31, 2018), whichever came first.
Covariates
Information on participants’ lifestyles was obtained from the health screening program
questionnaires. Smoking status was categorized as never, former, and current smokers. Alcohol
consumption was classified as non-, mild to moderate (<30g of alcohol/day), and heavy (≥30g of
alcohol/day) by assessing the amount of alcohol consumed per occasion and the frequency of
alcohol intake per week. Regular physical activity was defined as ≥30 minutes of moderate
physical activity at least 5 times per week or ≥20 minutes of vigorous physical activity at least 3
times per week as reported for the week preceding the assessment.[30] We also considered
socioeconomic position as a potential covariate, including place of residence and income level.
Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as participants’ body weight (kg) divided by the square
of their height (m2) and was categorized as low (< 18.5), normal (18.5–22.9), overweight (23
24.9), and obese (≥ 25) according to the Asia-Pacific BMI criteria established by the World
Health Organization.[31] The Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was used to assess the overall
comorbidity load.[32] The competing risk of mortality was assessed based on participant death
during follow-up.
Statistical analyses
Descriptive statistics are presented as numbers (percentages) for categorical variables and means
± standard deviations for continuous variables. We compared the two groups using the χ2 test for
categorical variables, as appropriate, and t-tests for continuous variables. The incidence rates of
IHD were estimated as the number of events per 1,000 person-years. A cumulative incidence plot
was used to compare the incidence of IHD between TB survivors and matched controls, and we
used a log-rank test to evaluate significant differences between the groups.
The association between TB survivors and the incidence of IHD was estimated using Cox
proportional hazards regressions with crude and multivariable-adjusted models. Model 1 was not
adjusted, and Model 2 was adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption,
regular physical activity, income, and place of residence. Model 3 was further adjusted for the
participants’ CCI score. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
To consider competing mortality risk, further analyses were performed using the Fine and Grey
model.[33] Stratified analyses were performed by sex, age, smoking status, alcohol consumption,
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regular physical activity, BMI, and CCI score. Forest plots for the HRs and 95% CIs of the
subgroups were calculated.
We additionally estimated the incidence rates of MI in both the TB survivors and matched
controls and used a log-rank test to evaluate differences in cumulative incidence between the
groups. The HRs and 95% CIs for MI were calculated by a Cox proportional hazards regression,
and the stratified analyses were also performed for related factors. All statistical analyses were
performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA), and a P-value < 0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
Baseline characteristics of the study population
Table 1 shows the baseline characteristics of the study participants. Their mean age was 52.4
years, and about 42.3% of them were female. TB survivors were more likely to live in an urban
area and had lower incomes than the matched controls (P <0.001 for both). Compared with
matched controls, more TB survivors were current smokers (29.3% vs. 22.7%) and heavy
drinkers (10.3% vs. 7.3%), and they had a lower BMI (P <0.001 for all). TB survivors were
likely to have a higher CCI score than the controls. Comorbidities including diabetes,
dyslipidemia, ischemic stroke and congestive heart failure were higher in TB survivors than in
the control group. In contrast, the opposite was true for hypertension (P < 0.001 for all).The
mean follow-up durations for IHD after 1 year of lag time were 3.77 years for TB survivors and
3.85 years for the matched controls, and the mean follow-up durations for MI after 1 year of lag
time were 3.81 years for TB survivors and 3.89 years for the matched controls.
Risk of IHD in TB patients compared with the matched controls
During follow-up, 2.7% of TB survivors (1,633/60,602) and 2.0% of the matched controls
(1,228/60,602) developed IHD, with incidence rates of 7.16 and 5.26 per 1,000 person-years,
respectively, and 0.6% of TB survivors (341/60,602) and 0.4% of the matched controls
(223/60,602) developed MI, with incidence rates of 1.48 and 0.95 per 1,000 person-years,
respectively (Table 2). TB survivors were thus found to have a higher risk of heart disease
(adjusted HR [aHR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.121.32 for IHD and aHR 1.48, 95% CI 1.231.78 for MI)
than the matched controls. There were no significant differences from the original results in the
analyses using the Fine and Gray competing risk model (subdistribution HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.10
1.29 for IHD and subdistribution HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.211.73 for MI).
The Kaplan-Meier curves present the cumulative incidence of IHD and MI in TB patients
compared with the matched controls (Figure 2 and Figure 3, respectively). The incidence of
IHD and MI correlated positively with TB (log-rank P<0.001).
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Stratified analyses
Figures 4 and 5 show the results from stratified analyses regarding the risk of IHD and MI
among TB survivors compared with the matched controls. No significant interaction was found
for any of the variables (P for interactions >0.05). Compared with the matched controls, TB
survivors showed a higher risk of IHD across all subgroups except for the youngest age group.
TB survivors also showed a higher risk of MI regardless of sex, income level, place of residence,
smoking status, and CCI scores (Figure 5).
DISCUSSION
This large-scale, population-based, cohort study compared the risk of IHD between TB survivors
and matched controls. We found that TB survivors had 21% increased risk of IHD and 48%
increased risk of MI compared with matched controls after adjusting for demographic
characteristics, health-behavioral factors, and comorbidities. Therefore, these findings support an
independent association between TB and IHD. Our study has advantages over the previous
studies in that we considered important confounders (e.g., BMI, smoking status, and alcohol
consumption) that were not considered thoroughly in the previous studies.[13, 15] In addition,
our consistent results across various stratified analyses of a large nationally representative
sample support the association between TB and an increased risk of IHD development.
Previous studies showed a consistently higher risk of IHD development in TB survivors
(Supplementary Table 1). Blondal et al. showed a strong association (standardized mortality
ratio (SMR) 1.80, 95% CI 1.212.57 in males and SMR 3.94, 95% CI 1.289.20 in females)
between TB infection and death from IHD.[34] Two cohort studies from Taiwan also showed an
increased risk of IHD development compared with control group (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.141.72 in
Chung et al. and HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.081.36 in Sheu et al.).[13, 15] A recent US study similarly
reported that TB is associated with the development of acute MI after adjusting for potential
confounding variables (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.303.00 in the all active TB group and HR 2.43, 95%
CI 1.504.10 in the pulmonary TB group).[14]
The mechanisms behind this association are not known completely, but a possible mechanism
has been proposed.[35] The hypothesis is that chronic inflammation derived from TB infection
might accelerate atherosclerosis, which is known to increase the risk of coronary heart
disease.[36] In contrast to the old idea that TB-associated inflammation disappears after TB
treatment, it is now understood that chronic inflammation can persist in tissues long after the
clearance of M. tuberculosis.[37] Therefore, just as other chronic inflammatory diseases, such as
systemic lupus,[38] rheumatoid arthritis,[39] and inflammatory bowel disease,[40] are associated
with cardiovascular disease, the chronic inflammation associated with TB infection could cause
atherosclerosis and thereby induce the development of IHD, including MI. Furthermore,
accumulating evidence that the risk of ischemic stroke, which is also caused by atherosclerosis,
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is increased in TB survivors supports the link between TB and IHD.[4] The increased risk of
IHD in post-TB survivors can be also mediated by post-TB lung disease; for example, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis, which are common sequela of TB, are well
known risk factors for IHD.[41, 42] Studies have suggested that some conditions of these
diseases (e.g., exacerbations, hypoxemia, systemic inflammation, decondition, or arterial
stiffness) can contribute to the development of IHD.[41, 42]
The clinical implications of our finding that TB survivors have higher-than-average risk of IHD
emphasize the importance of surveillance for IHD in TB survivors. IHD surveillance in TB
survivors would be also helpful to identify risk factors for IHD such as active smoking and heavy
alcohol consumption; since these are also important risk factors for developing TB, TB survivors
are naturally more likely to report smoking or alcohol consumption than non-TB subjects. A
previous study demonstrated that 15.2% of TB mortality were attributable to smoking.[46]
Smoking is also a well known risk factor of cardiovascular disease such as IHD.[28] However,
the prevalence of smoking in TB patients is much higher than in the general population.[47, 48]
Considering the increased risk of IHD in TB survivors, our findings highlight the need to control
tobacco use in TB survivors, especially in countries with intermediate to high TB burden.
Furthermore, as statins reduce systemic inflammation in addition to their role in cardiovascular
disease prevention,[49] statin use in TB survivors at high risk for IHD could be another strategy
for controlling chronic inflammation after TB infection and reduce the risk of IHD
development.[50]
This study has some limitations to be acknowledged. First, because we used a database of
insurance claims data, undetected or misclassified TB diagnoses are a possibility. However,
since the TB notification information system was established in Korea in 2000, all TB patients
have been required to register electronically since 2001,[51] so we suggest that the definition of
TB in this study is highly reliable. Second, due to the inherent limitations of claims data, the
severity of TB (e.g., TB extent in pulmonary imaging [e.g., the presence of cavitary lesions or
bilateral disease] or degree of bacterial smear and culture) and the presence of permanent
pulmonary sequelae, which can affect the development of IHD, could not be measured. Third,
there is a possibility of reverse causality. To minimize the possible effects of reverse causality,
we excluded patients diagnosed with IHD or MI before or within 1 year after their TB diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
In this nationwide population-based cohort study, we found that TB survivors had a higher risk
of IHD (including MI) than the general population. Physicians should be aware of the risk of
IHD in patients with TB and provide adequate preventive management. Further studies are
needed to clarify the exact mechanisms underlying this association and to verify whether TB
control strategies can reduce the risk of IHD.
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Acknowledgement: This study was performed using a database from the National Health
Insurance System, but the results do not necessarily represent the opinion of the National Health
Insurance Corporation.
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by
the Ministry of Science, Information and Communications Technologies (MSIT) (NRF-
2020R1F1A1070468).
Funding: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant
funded by the Ministry of Science, Information and Communications Technologies (MSIT)
(NRF-2020R1F1A1070468).
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 12
Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the study participants
Study population
N = 121,204
TB survivors
N = 60,602
Matched controls
N = 60,602
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
p-value*
Age, yr
20-29
8,400 (6.9)
4,200 (6.9)
4,200 (6.9)
30-39
17,306 (14.3)
8,653 (14.3)
8,653 (14.3)
40-49
26,546 (21.9)
13,273 (21.9)
13,273 (21.9)
50-59
29,116 (24.0)
14,558 (24.0)
14,558 (24.0)
60-69
21,094 (17.4)
10,547 (17.4)
10,547 (17.4)
70-79
16,216 (13.4)
8,108 (13.4)
8,108 (13.4)
≥80
2,526 (2.1)
1,263 (2.1)
1,263 (2.1)
Sex
Male
69,938 (57.7)
34,969 (57.7)
34,969 (57.7)
Female
51,266 (42.3)
25,633 (42.3)
25,633 (42.3)
Place of residence
<.001
Urban
54,114 (44.6)
27,724 (45.7)
26,390 (43.5)
Rural
67,090 (55.4)
32,878 (54.3)
34,212 (56.5)
Income level, lowest 20%
<.001
No
99,535 (82.1)
49,442 (81.6)
50,093 (82.7)
Yes
21,669 (17.9)
11,160 (18.4)
10,509 (17.3)
Smoking status
<.001
Never
69,575 (57.4)
33,639 (55.5)
35,936 (59.3)
Ex-smoker
20,072 (16.6)
9,186 (15.2)
10,886 (18.0)
Current
31,557 (26.0)
17,777 (29.3)
13,780 (22.7)
Alcohol consumption
<.001
None
63,170 (52.1)
31,819 (52.5)
31,351 (51.7)
Mild
47,390 (39.1)
22,541 (37.2)
24,849 (41.0)
Heavy
10,644 (8.8)
6,242 (10.3)
4,402 (7.3)
Regular physical activity
<.001
No
98,558 (81.3)
50,360 (83.1)
50,093 (82.7)
Yes
22,646 (18.7)
10,242 (16.9)
10,509 (17.3)
Body mass index, kg/m2
<.001
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DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 13
<18.5
8,800 (7.2)
6,586 (10.9)
2,214 (3.6)
18.5-22.9
56,704 (46.8)
33,220 (54.8)
23,484 (38.8)
23-24.9
26,652 (22.0)
11,506 (19.0)
15,146 (25.0)
≥25
29,048 (24.0)
9,290 (15.3)
19,758 (32.6)
Charlson comorbidity index score
<.001
0-2
94,702 (78.1)
42,225 (69.7)
52,477 (86.6)
≥3
26,502 (21.9)
18,377 (30.3)
8,125 (13.4)
Comorbidities
Diabetes
15,905 (13.1)
9,523 (15.7)
6,382 (10.5)
<.001
Hypertension
26,415 (21.8)
12,659 (20.9)
13,756 (22.7)
<.001
Dyslipidemia
25,874 (21.4)
14,036 (23.2)
11,838 (19.5)
<.001
Ischemic stroke
518 (0.4)
330 (0.5)
188 (0.3)
<.001
Congestive heart failure
931 (0.8)
645 (1.1)
286 (0.5)
<.001
Data are presented as number (percentage) for categorical variables and mean ± standard deviation for numerical
variables.
N, number; TB, pulmonary tuberculosis
*P values were calculated by t-test for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables.
Matched for age, sex, and year of index date.
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Table 2. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the incidence of ischemic heart disease and myocardial
infarction in TB survivors compared with the matched controls
Subjects
(N)
Events
(n)
Duration
(person-years)
Incidence rate
(per 1,000 person -years)
HR (95% CI)
SHR (95% CI)
Model 1
Model 2
Model 3
Competing risk model
Ischemic heart disease
Matched controls
60,602
1,228
233279.9
5.26
1 (Ref.)
1 (Ref.)
1(Ref.)
1(Ref.)
TB survivors
60,602
1,633
228241.5
7.16
1.36 (1.26,
1.47)
1.44 (1.33, 1.55)
1.21 (1.12, 1.32)
1.19 (1.10, 1.29)
Myocardial infarction
Matched controls
60,602
223
235623.7
0.95
1 (Ref.)
1 (Ref.)
1(Ref.)
1(Ref.)
TB survivors
60,602
341
230973.9
1.48
1.56 (1.32,
1.85)
1.69 (1.42, 2.02)
1.48 (1.23, 1.78)
1.45 (1.21, 1.73)
HR, hazard ratio; SHR, subdistribution hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; TB, tuberculosis,
Model 1: Non-adjusted
Model 2: adjusted for smoking, alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, body mass index, income, and place of residence
Model 3: adjusted for smoking, alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, body mass index, income, place of residence, and Charlson comorbidity index
Competing risk model: Fine and Gray model was used for competing risk analyses taking death as the competing event and variables in Model 3 were adjusted.
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DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 15
FIGURE LEGENDS
Figure 1. Selection scheme for the study population
TB, tuberculosis
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DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 16
Figure 2. Kaplan-Meier curves for the risk of ischemic heart disease in tuberculosis survivors
and comparison participants
Figure 3. Kaplan-Meier curves for the risk of myocardial infarction in tuberculosis survivors and
comparison participants
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DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 17
Figure 4. Subgroup analyses for the incidence of ischemic heart disease in tuberculosis survivors
and the matched controls
Adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, body mass index, income, place of
residence, and Charlson comorbidity index
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DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac946 18
Figure 5. Subgroup analyses for the incidence of myocardial infarction in tuberculosis survivors
and the matched controls
Adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, body mass index, income, place of
residence, and Charlson comorbidity index
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... The definitions of comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, end-stage renal disease, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) were based on ICD-10 codes as previously described [19,20,[22][23][24]. Additionally, tuberculosis and other CTDs (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, mixed CTD, and polymyalgia rheumatica) were defined using ICD-10 codes as well as registration with the national rare intractable disease supporting program [17,23,24]. ...
... The definitions of comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, end-stage renal disease, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) were based on ICD-10 codes as previously described [19,20,[22][23][24]. Additionally, tuberculosis and other CTDs (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, mixed CTD, and polymyalgia rheumatica) were defined using ICD-10 codes as well as registration with the national rare intractable disease supporting program [17,23,24]. Household income was categorized into quartiles based on insurance premium levels (in Korea, insurance premiums are determined by income level), with those covered by Medical Aid (poorest 3%) being merged into the lowest income quartile [23][24][25]. ...
... Additionally, tuberculosis and other CTDs (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, mixed CTD, and polymyalgia rheumatica) were defined using ICD-10 codes as well as registration with the national rare intractable disease supporting program [17,23,24]. Household income was categorized into quartiles based on insurance premium levels (in Korea, insurance premiums are determined by income level), with those covered by Medical Aid (poorest 3%) being merged into the lowest income quartile [23][24][25]. ...
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Background The association between systemic sclerosis and the development of bronchiectasis is unclear. This study aimed to compare the risk of bronchiectasis between individuals with systemic sclerosis and those without using a nationwide longitudinal dataset. Methods Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service dataset between 2010 and 2017, we identified 4845 individuals aged ≥ 20 years with systemic sclerosis and 24,225 without systemic sclerosis who were matched 1:5 by age and sex. They were followed up until the date of a bronchiectasis diagnosis, death, or December 31, 2019, whichever came first. Results During a median follow-up period of 6.0 (interquartile range, 3.2–8.7) years, 5.3% of the systemic sclerosis cohort and 1.9% of the matched cohort developed bronchiectasis, with incidence rates of 9.99 and 3.23 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Even after adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of incident bronchiectasis was significantly higher in the systemic sclerosis cohort than in the matched cohort (adjusted hazard ratio 2.63, 95% confidence interval 2.22–3.12). A subgroup analysis of individuals with systemic sclerosis revealed that the risk of incident bronchiectasis was notably higher in younger individuals aged 20–39 years (P for interaction = 0.048) and in those without other coexisting connective tissue diseases (P for interaction = 0.006) than in their counterparts. Conclusions The risk of incident bronchiectasis is higher in individuals with systemic sclerosis than those without. Bronchiectasis should be considered one of the pulmonary manifestations related to systemic sclerosis.
... Reporting diagnosed TB cases to the Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare is mandatory; therefore, physicians disclose patient's personal information, examination results, treatments, and treatment outcomes [18]. The KNHIS claim database contains complete information regarding insured medical services and unique insurance codes for active TB [19][20][21][22]. ...
... followed by non-CNS TB survivors at 11% (95% CI 1.05-1. 19), and lowest among controls. The risk of AD was non-significantly higher in CNS TB survivors compared to controls (aHR 1.54, 95% CI 0.89-2.66), ...
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Background: Concern has been growing regarding post-tuberculosis (TB) morbidities, including neurologic and vascular comorbidities. However, the association between post-TB status and the risk of dementia has been evaluated in only few studies. Therefore, in the present study, the risk of dementia was investigated in a nationwide population-based cohort. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) database, this study included TB survivors (n = 50,182) and matched controls (n = 50,182) for age, sex, and year of index date. The risk of dementia was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression, and stratified analyses for related factors were performed. Results: During a mean 3.5 years of follow-up, the incidence of dementia was 9.32 for Alzheimer disease and 1.17 for vascular dementia per 1,000 person-years for TB survivors and 7.21 and 0.67, respectively, for matched controls. The overall risk of Alzheimer disease was 1.11 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.20)-fold higher in TB survivors than in matched controls. For vascular dementia, 1.48 (95% CI 1.16–1.89)-fold higher risk was found in TB survivors than in matched controls. The strength of the association between TB and dementia was higher in CNS TB (aHR 1.76, 95% CI 1.18 –2.64) than non-CNS TB (aHR 1.11, 95% CI 1.05–1.19) compared to controls, especially for patients with vascular dementia (3.33, 95% CI 1.06–10.49). Conclusion: TB survivors had a significantly higher risk of dementia than the general population.
... or hospitalizations, with ICD-10 codes for TB (A15-19) and the specific NHIS codes for TB (V206, V246, and V000); and (2) patients who were prescribed two or more of the following anti-TB drugs for at least 90 days. More details are provided in a previous study (4,5,13,16,19). TB was classified as pulmonary TB (A15, A16, or A19) or extrapulmonary TB (A17 or A18 without A15, A16, or A19). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of new fractures during the follow-up period. ...
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Purpose Tuberculosis (TB) is linked to sustained inflammation even after treatment, and fracture risk is higher in TB survivors than in the general population. However, no individualized fracture risk prediction model exists for TB survivors. We aimed to estimate fracture risk, identify fracture-related factors, and develop an individualized risk prediction model for TB survivors. Methods TB survivors (n = 44,453) between 2010 and 2017 and 1:1 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. One year after TB diagnosis, the participants were followed-up until the date of fracture, death, or end of the study period (December 2018). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to compare the fracture risk between TB survivors and controls and to identify fracture-related factors among TB survivors. Results During median 3.4 (interquartile range, 1.6–5.3) follow-up years, the incident fracture rate was significantly higher in TB survivors than in the matched controls (19.3 vs. 14.6 per 1,000 person-years, p < 0.001). Even after adjusting for potential confounders, TB survivors had a higher risk for all fractures (adjusted hazard ratio 1.27 [95% confidence interval 1.20–1.34]), including hip (1.65 [1.39–1.96]) and vertebral (1.35 [1.25–1.46]) fractures, than matched controls. Fracture-related factors included pulmonary TB, female sex, older age, heavy alcohol consumption, reduced exercise, and a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (p < 0.05). The individualized fracture risk model showed good discrimination (concordance statistic = 0.678). Conclusion TB survivors have a higher fracture risk than matched controls. An individualized prediction model may help prevent fractures in TB survivors, especially in high-risk groups.
... Comorbidities were defined using the following ICD-10 diagnosis codes: hypertension (I10-I15), diabetes mellitus (E10-E14), asthma (J45-J46), ischaemic heart disease (I20-I21), heart failure (I50), cerebrovascular disease (G45-G46, I60-I69, or H34.0), and chronic kidney disease (N18). [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated according to a previous report. 32 ...
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... Using ICD-10 codes, the comorbidities of hypertension (I10-13, and I15), diabetes mellitus (DM, E10-14), chronic kidney disease (CKD, N18), allergic rhinitis (J30), and/or dyslipidemia (E78) with at least one diagnosis within 1 year were also recorded (12,(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). ...
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Objectives Previous studies suggested that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could lead to pulmonary fibrosis, but the incidence of newly diagnosed interstitial lung disease (ILD) after COVID-19 is unclear. We aimed to determine whether COVID-19 increases the risk of newly diagnosed ILD and whether vaccination against COVID-19 can reduce this risk. Methods This retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance claim-based database. Two study groups and propensity score (PS)-matched control groups were constructed: Study 1: participants diagnosed with COVID-19 (COVID-19 cohort) and their PS-matched controls; Study 2: COVID-19 vaccinated participants (vaccination cohort) and their PS-matched controls. Results In Study 1, during a median 6 months of follow-up, 0.50% of the COVID-19 cohort (300/60,518) and 0.04% of controls (27/60,518) developed newly diagnosed ILD, with an incidence of 9.76 and 0.88 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. The COVID-19 cohort had a higher risk of ILD [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 11.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.42–16.32] than controls. In Study 2, the vaccination cohort had a lower risk of newly diagnosed ILD than controls (aHR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.34–0.57). Conclusion Using nationwide data, we demonstrated that COVID-19 was associated with a higher incidence rate of newly diagnosed ILD, but that this risk could be mitigated by COVID-19 vaccination.
... 23 Comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, myocardial infarction, airway diseases (asthma and COPD), TB, and ILD, were also defined based on ICD-10 codes, prescriptions, and health screening results as previously described (e- Table 2). 18,[24][25][26] Statistical Analysis ...
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Background: Despite the coexistence of bronchiectasis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the poor prognosis associated with the combination of conditions, no longitudinal studies that comprehensively evaluated whether patients with RA have a higher risk of bronchiectasis compared with those without bronchiectasis have been published. Whether seropositivity is associated with an increased risk of bronchiectasis in RA is the subject of ongoing controversy. Research Question: Does RA influence the development of bronchiectasis? Is seropositivity associated with an increased risk of bronchiectasis in RA? Study Design and Methods: The incidence of bronchiectasis was compared between individuals with RA (n=50,651; 35,879 seropositive RA [SPRA] and 14,772 seronegative RA [SNRA]) and 1:5 age- and sex-matched controls (n=253,255) enrolled between 2010 and 2017 in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The participants were followed from 1 year after RA diagnosis or the corresponding index date to the date of bronchiectasis incidence, censored date, or December 2019. Results: The cumulative incidence of bronchiectasis at 9 years of follow-up was approximately 7% in participants with RA. During a median follow-up of 4.3 years (interquartile range, 2.6–6.3 years), participants with RA showed a 2.12-fold higher risk of developing bronchiectasis compared with matched controls even after adjusting for potential confounders related to bronchiectasis development (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00–2.25), In an analysis of RA serologic status using a fully adjusted model, participants with SPRA and those with SNRA showed 2.34-fold (95% CI, 2.20–2.49) and 1.56-fold (95% CI, 1.40–1.73) increased risks, respectively, compared with matched controls. Interpretation: Individuals with RA had approximately twice the risk of developing bronchiectasis than matched controls even after adjusting for potential confounders. The increased risk was more evident in individuals with SPRA than in those with SNRA, implying that rheumatic inflammation plays a major role in the development of RA-bronchiectasis.
... Other comorbidities were defined using the following ICD-10 codes: COPD (J42-J44, except J43.0 [unilateral emphysema]), asthma (J45-J46), ischemic heart disease (I20-I25), myocardial infarction (I21-I22), congestive heart failure (I50), stroke (I63-I64), and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) (A15-A19 plus the specific NHIS code for TB, V000, V206, or V246). 19,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33] ...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, are associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, few data are available regarding the risk of dementia in individuals with bronchiectasis. Objectives: To explore the association between bronchiectasis and the risk of incident dementia using a longitudinal population-based cohort. Methods: A total of 4,068,560 adults older than 50 years without previous dementia were enrolled from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database in 2009. They were followed up until the date of the diagnosis of dementia or December 31, 2020. The study exposure was the diagnosis of bronchiectasis, and the primary outcome was incident dementia comprising Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Results: During the median follow-up duration of 9.3 years, the incidence of all-cause dementia was 1.6-fold higher in individuals with bronchiectasis than in those without bronchiectasis (15.0 vs. 9.3/1000 person-years, p < .001). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, the risk of all dementia was significantly higher in individuals with bronchiectasis than in those without bronchiectasis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.14). In a subgroup analysis by dementia type, individuals with bronchiectasis had an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to those without bronchiectasis (aHR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.12); the risk of vascular dementia did not significantly differ between the two groups (aHR 1.05, 95% CI 0.90–1.21). Conclusion: Bronchiectasis was associated with an increased risk of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease.
... Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are caused by TB-induced direct cardiac involvement, such as pericardial TB. However, increases in CVD incidence in patients with TB have been reported [3][4][5][6][7]. For example, in Taiwan, a large population-based retrospective study found that patients with a history of TB had an approximately 3-fold increased risk of developing CVD compared to those without TB [8]. ...
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Background Although the association between tuberculosis (TB) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported in several studies and is explained by mechanisms related to chronic inflammation, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the association between TB and CVD in Korea. Methods Using a population-based nationwide survey, we categorized participants into two groups according to the presence or absence of prior TB infection. We evaluated the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorder (ASCVD) risk in both groups and analyzed the 10-year ASCVD risk according to epidemiological characteristics. Results Compared with the control group, the post-TB survivor group had a higher mean age (53.73 vs. 45.35 years), a higher proportion of male sex (60.20% vs. 49.53%), and a lower proportion of unmarried individuals (10.01% vs. 23.01%). Comparing the 10-year ASCVD risk between the post-TB survivor and control groups, the post-TB survivor group had an increased 10-year ASCVD risk in the high-risk group (40.46% vs. 24.00%, P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the intermediate and high-risk groups had also significantly increased 10-year ASCVD risks (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.23 and OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.59–1.78, respectively) in the post-TB survivor group. In the association of CVD among post-TB survivors according to epidemiologic characteristics, age (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.10, 95% CI 1.07–1.12), a current smoker (aOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.32–5.17), a high family income (aOR 2.47, 95% CI 1.32–4.62), Diabetes mellitus (aOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.20–3.07), and depression (aOR 2.15, 95% CI 1.10–4.19) were associated with CVD in the post-TB survivor group. Conclusions Our study findings suggest a higher 10-year ASCVD risk among TB survivors than among control participants. This warrants long-term cardiovascular monitoring and management of the post-TB population.
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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) survivors have an increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study assessed the risk of COPD development and COPD-related hospitalization in TB survivors compared to controls. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of TB survivors and 1:1 age- and sex-matched controls using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database collected from 2010 to 2017. We compared the risk of COPD development and COPD-related hospitalization between TB survivors and controls. Results: Of the subjects, 9.6% developed COPD, and 2.8% experienced COPD-related hospitalization. TB survivors had significantly higher COPD incidence rates (36.7/1,000 vs. 18.8/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001) and COPD-related hospitalization (10.7/1,000 vs. 4.3/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001) than controls. Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed higher risks of COPD development (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54–1.73) and COPD-related hospitalization (aHR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.81–2.27) in TB survivors. Among those who developed COPD, the hospitalization rate was higher in individuals with post-TB COPD compared to those with non-TB COPD (10.7/1,000 vs. 4.9/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001), showing an increased risk of COPD-related hospitalization (aHR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.17–2.92). Conclusion: TB survivors had higher risks of incident COPD and COPD-related hospitalization compared to controls. These results suggest that previous TB is an important COPD etiology associated with COPD-related hospitalization.
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Introduction People with tuberculosis experience long-term health effects beyond cure, including chronic respiratory diseases. We investigated whether tuberculosis is a risk factor for subsequent lung cancer. Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature and the Scientific Electronic Library Online for cohort and case–control studies providing effect estimates for the association between tuberculosis and subsequent lung cancer. We pooled estimates through random-effects meta-analysis. The study was registered in PROSPERO (CDR42020178362). Results Out of 6240 records, we included 29 cohort and 44 case–control studies. Pooled estimates adjusted for age and smoking (assessed quantitatively) were hazard ratio (HR) 1.51 (95% CI 1.30–1.76, I ² =81%; five studies) and OR 1.74 (95% CI 1.42–2.13, I ² =59%; 19 studies). The occurrence of lung cancer was increased for 2 years after tuberculosis diagnosis (HR 5.01, 95% CI 3.64–6.89; two studies), but decreased thereafter. Most studies were retrospective, had moderate to high risk of bias, and did not control for passive smoking, environmental exposure and socioeconomic status. Heterogeneity was high. Conclusion We document an association between tuberculosis and lung cancer occurrence, particularly in, but not limited to, the first 2 years after tuberculosis diagnosis. Some cancer cases may have been present at the time of tuberculosis diagnosis and therefore causality cannot be ascertained. Prospective studies controlling for key confounding factors are needed to identify which tuberculosis patients are at the highest risk, as well as cost-effective approaches to mitigate such risk.
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Background When assessing long-term tuberculosis (TB) mortality, few studies addressed the impact of behavior habits and socioeconomic status. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate long-term TB mortality and risk factors while accounting for potential confounders. Methods This cohort study included TB survivors (n = 82,098) aged≥20 years between 2010 and 2017, and 1:1 age- and sex-matched controls (n = 82,098). The participants were followed up for death 1 year after study enrollment until December 2018. Long-term mortality was adjusted for behavior habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, or exercise), income level, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities. Results During a median of 3.7 years of follow-up, the incidence rate of mortality was significantly higher in TB survivors than those in the matched controls (18.2 vs. 8.8 per 1,000 person-years, P < .001). Even after adjusting for potential confounders, the mortality risk was 1.62-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.54–1.70) higher in TB survivors than those in the matched controls. In addition, the hazard of mortality in TB survivors relative to matched controls significantly increased in participants aged≥30 years, with the highest risk in those in their 40s. Male sex (adjusted hazard ratio [HR][95% CI]:2.31[2.16–2.47]), smoking pack-years (1.005[1.004–1.006]), heavy alcohol consumption (1.12[1.01–1.23]), and lowest income (1.27[1.18–1.37]) were positively associated with increased hazards for mortality, while higher BMI (0.91[0.90–0.92]) and regular exercise (0.82[0.76–0.88]) reduced the hazards of long-term mortality in TB survivors. Conclusions The long-term mortality risk was significantly higher in TB survivors than those in the matched controls, even after adjusting for potential confounders.
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Rationale Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) can cause post-TB lung disease (PTLD) associated with respiratory symptoms, spirometric and radiological abnormalities. Understanding of the predictors and natural history of PTLD is limited. Objectives To describe the symptoms and lung function of Malawian adults up to 3 years following PTB-treatment completion, and to determine the evolution of PTLD over this period. Methods Adults successfully completing PTB treatment in Blantyre, Malawi were followed up for 3 years and assessed using questionnaires, post-bronchodilator spirometry, 6 min walk tests, chest X-ray and high-resolution CT. Predictors of lung function at 3 years were identified by mixed effects regression modelling. Measurement and main results We recruited 405 participants of whom 301 completed 3 years follow-up (mean (SD) age 35 years (10.2); 66.6% males; 60.4% HIV-positive). At 3 years, 59/301 (19.6%) reported respiratory symptoms and 76/272 (27.9%) had abnormal spirometry. The proportions with low FVC fell from 57/285 (20.0%) at TB treatment completion to 33/272 (12.1%), while obstruction increased from and 41/285 (14.4%) to 43/272 (15.8%) at 3 years. Absolute FEV 1 and FVC increased by mean 0.03 L and 0.1 L over this period, but FEV 1 decline of more than 0.1 L was seen in 73/246 (29.7%). Higher spirometry values at 3 years were associated with higher body mass index and HIV coinfection at TB-treatment completion. Conclusion Spirometric measures improved over the 3 years following treatment, mostly in the first year. However, a third of PTB survivors experienced ongoing respiratory symptoms and abnormal spirometry (with accelerated FEV 1 decline). Effective interventions are needed to improve the care of this group of patients.
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Tuberculosis (TB) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) have a close epidemiological and pathogenetic overlap. Thus, it becomes essential to understand the relationship between ASCVD and TB outcomes. From our retrospective cohort on drug-susceptible TB patients at the National Taiwan University Hospital, we assessed the association of pre-existing ASCVD (coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherothrombotic stroke (ATS)) with 9-month all-cause and infection-related mortality and the extent of mediation by systemic inflammatory markers. We determined the effect of pre-existing ASCVD on 2-month sputum microbiological status. Among ASCVD patients, we assessed the association of statin use on mortality. Nine-month all-cause mortality was higher in CAD patients with prior acute myocardial infarction (CAD+AMI+) (adjusted HR 2.01, 95%CI 1.38–3.00) and ATS patients (aHR 2.79, 95%CI 1.92–4.07) and similarly, for infection-related mortality was higher in CAD+AMI+ (aHR 1.95, 95%CI 1.17–3.24) and ATS (aHR 2.04, 95%CI 1.19–3.46) after adjusting for confounding factors. Pre-existing CAD (AMI- or AMI+) or ATS did not change sputum culture conversion or sputum smear AFB positivity at 2 months. The CAD+AMI+ group had significantly higher levels of CRP at TB diagnosis in the multivariable linear regression analysis (Adjusted B(SE) 1.24(0.62)). CRP mediated 66% (P = 0.048) and 25% (P = 0.033) of the association all-cause mortality with CAD+AMI− and CAD+AMI+, respectively. In summary, patients with ASCVD have higher hazards of 9-month all-cause and infection-related mortality, with elevated serum inflammation mediating one to three-quarters of this association when adjusted for confounders. Statin use was associated with lower all-cause mortality among patients with ASCVD.
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An estimated 58 million people have survived tuberculosis since 2000, yet many of them will suffer from post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD). PTLD results from a complex interplay between organism, host, and environmental factors and affects long-term respiratory health. PTLD is an overlapping spectrum of disorders that affects large and small airways (bronchiectasis and obstructive lung disease), lung parenchyma, pulmonary vasculature, and pleura and may be complicated by co-infection and haemoptysis. People affected by PTLD have shortened life expectancy and increased risk of recurrent tuberculosis, but predictors of long-term outcomes are not known. No data are available on PTLD in children and on impact throughout the life course. Risk-factors for PTLD include multiple episodes of tuberculosis, drug-resistant tuberculosis, delays in diagnosis, and possibly smoking. Due to a lack of controlled trials in this population, no evidence-based recommendations for the investigation and management of PTLD are currently available. Empirical expert opinion advocates pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking cessation, and vaccinations (pneumococcal and influenza). Exacerbations in PTLD remain both poorly understood and under-recognised. Among people with PTLD, the probability of tuberculosis recurrence must be balanced against other causes of symptom worsening. Unnecessary courses of repeated empiric anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy should be avoided. PTLD is an important contributor to the global burden of chronic lung disease. Advocacy is needed to increase recognition for PTLD and its associated economic, social, and psychological consequences and to better understand how PTLD sequelae could be mitigated. Research is urgently needed to inform policy to guide clinical decision-making and preventative strategies for PTLD.
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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), principally ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, are the leading cause of global mortality and a major contributor to disability. This paper reviews the magnitude of total CVD burden, including 13 underlying causes of cardiovascular death and 9 related risk factors, using estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. GBD, an ongoing multinational collaboration to provide comparable and consistent estimates of population health over time, used all available population-level data sources on incidence, prevalence, case fatality, mortality, and health risks to produce estimates for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. Prevalent cases of total CVD nearly doubled from 271 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 257 to 285 million) in 1990 to 523 million (95% UI: 497 to 550 million) in 2019, and the number of CVD deaths steadily increased from 12.1 million (95% UI:11.4 to 12.6 million) in 1990, reaching 18.6 million (95% UI: 17.1 to 19.7 million) in 2019. The global trends for disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and years of life lost also increased significantly, and years lived with disability doubled from 17.7 million (95% UI: 12.9 to 22.5 million) to 34.4 million (95% UI:24.9 to 43.6 million) over that period. The total number of DALYs due to IHD has risen steadily since 1990, reaching 182 million (95% UI: 170 to 194 million) DALYs, 9.14 million (95% UI: 8.40 to 9.74 million) deaths in the year 2019, and 197 million (95% UI: 178 to 220 million) prevalent cases of IHD in 2019. The total number of DALYs due to stroke has risen steadily since 1990, reaching 143 million (95% UI: 133 to 153 million) DALYs, 6.55 million (95% UI: 6.00 to 7.02 million) deaths in the year 2019, and 101 million (95% UI: 93.2 to 111 million) prevalent cases of stroke in 2019. Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of disease burden in the world. CVD burden continues its decades-long rise for almost all countries outside high-income countries, and alarmingly, the age-standardized rate of CVD has begun to rise in some locations where it was previously declining in high-income countries. There is an urgent need to focus on implementing existing cost-effective policies and interventions if the world is to meet the targets for Sustainable Development Goal 3 and achieve a 30% reduction in premature mortality due to noncommunicable diseases.
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In South Korea, the estimated incidences of bronchiectasis were 147–229 cases per 100000 with a decreasing trend. It may follow the concurrent decrease in the TB prevalence and incidence, and favourable personal and socioeconomic conditions.
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Protective immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)—the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB)—is not fully understood but involves immune responses within the pulmonary airways which can lead to exacerbated inflammation and immune pathology. In humans, this inflammation results in lung damage; the extent of which depends on specific host pro-inflammatory processes. Neutrophils, though increasingly linked to the development of inflammatory disorders, have been less well studied in relation to TB-induced lung pathology. Neutrophils mode of action and their specialized functions can be directly linked to TB-specific lung tissue damage observed on patient chest X-rays at diagnosis and contribute to long-term pulmonary sequelae. This review discusses aspects of neutrophil activity associated with active TB, including the resulting inflammation and pulmonary impairment. It highlights the significance of neutrophil function on TB disease outcome and underlines the necessity of monitoring neutrophil function for better assessment of the immune response and severity of lung pathology associated with TB. Finally, we propose that some MMPs, ROS, MPO, S100A8/A9 and Glutathione are neutrophil-related inflammatory mediators with promising potential as targets for developing host-directed therapies for TB.
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Background: Conflicting results exist regarding the risk of ischemic stroke in tuberculosis survivors. We aimed to estimate the risk of ischemic stroke using a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort. Methods: We gathered data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service on tuberculosis survivors and 1:1 age- and sex-matched non-tuberculosis cases. Eligible participants were followed up from 1 year after tuberculosis diagnosis to the date of ischemic stroke event, date of death, or until the end of the study period (December 31, 2018), whichever came first. Cox proportional hazard regression and stratified analyses were performed to identify any related factors. Results: During follow-up periods of 3.8 years for patients with tuberculosis and matched non-tuberculosis cases, 1.3% of patients with tuberculosis (941/72 863) and 1.0% of matched non-tuberculosis cases (707/72 863) developed ischemic stroke. The overall risk of ischemic stroke was higher in tuberculosis patients (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.22 [95% CI, 1.10–1.36]) compared with the matched non-tuberculosis cases. A stratified analysis showed that patients with tuberculosis had increased risk of ischemic stroke regardless of age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. Conclusions: Tuberculosis survivors had a higher risk of ischemic stroke than their matched non-tuberculosis cases. The results of this study suggest that tuberculosis is a crucial infectious factor associated with increased incidence of ischemic stroke.
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Aims The aim of this study was to assess the association of smoking cessation and reduction with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods and results A total of 897 975 current smokers aged ≥40 years who had undergone two consecutive national health examinations (in 2009 and 2011) were included. Participants were classified as quitters (20.6%), reducers I (≥50% reduction, 7.3%), reducers II (20–50% reduction, 11.6%), sustainers (45.7%), and increasers (≥20% increase, 14.5%). During 5 575 556 person-years (PY) of follow-up, 17 748 stroke (3.2/1000 PY) and 11 271 myocardial infarction (MI) (2.0/1000 PY) events were identified. Quitters had significantly decreased risk of stroke [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.77 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74–0.81; absolute risk reduction (ARR) −0.37, 95% CI −0.43 to −0.31] and MI (aHR 0.74, 95% CI 0.70–0.78; ARR −0.27, 95% CI −0.31 to −0.22) compared to sustainers after adjustment for demographic factors, comorbidities, and smoking status. The risk of stroke and MI incidence in reducers I (aHR 1.02, 95% CI 0.97–1.08 and aHR 0.99, 95% CI 0.92–1.06, respectively) and reducers II (aHR 1.00, 95% CI 0.95–1.05 and aHR 0.97, 95% CI 0.92–1.04, respectively) was not significantly different from the risk in sustainers. Further analysis with a subgroup who underwent a third examination (in 2013) showed that those who quit at the second examination but had starting smoking again by the third examination had 42–69% increased risk of CVD compared to sustained quitters. Conclusions Smoking cessation, but not reduction, was associated with reduced CVD risk. Our study emphasizes the importance of sustained quitting in terms of CVD risk reduction.