Lung Function and Tuberculosis Incidence: Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study = Lung Function and Tuberculosis Incidence: Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background/Aim
It is well known that lung function sometimes decreases after suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. However, little is known about the relationship between lung function and the occurrence of tuberculosis in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of tuberculosis according to lung function.
Methods
We analyzed clinical data of total 16,457 patients derived by cross-referencing Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) between 2010 and 2016.
Results
Total 16,457 patients were divided into three groups based on spirometry as follows: normal, 12,666, (77.0%); obstructive pattern impairment, 2,204 (13.4%); restrictive pattern impairment, 1,587 (9.6%) (Table1). The risk of tuberculosis was higher in patients with obstructive (HR 3.748, 95% CI, 2.227 to 6.309) and restrictive (HR 2.681, 95% CI, 1.398 to 5.141) lung function impairment than patients with normal lung function (Table2). Also, risk of TB was inversely correlated with FEV1. Total 16,457 patients were divided into quartile groups based on FEV1,; lowest (Q1), lower middle (Q2), higher middle (Q3), and highest (Q4) (Table3). The lowest group (Q1) by FEV1 has significantly increased risk of tuberculosis, compared to the highest group (Q4) (HR 1.962, 95% CI 1.09, 3.534, p-value 0.0013).
Conclusion
Patients with low lung function have increased risk of tuberculosis. Also, TB incidence was inversely correlated with FEV1.