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Post-tuberculosis lung disease: a comparison of Brazilian, Italian, and Mexican cohorts

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To evaluate lung function in a cohort of patients with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis in Brazil, as well as to evaluate the decline in lung function over time and compare it with that observed in similar cohorts in Mexico and Italy.

Methods:

The three cohorts were compared in terms of age, smoking status, pulmonary function test results, six-minute walk test results, and arterial blood gas results. In the Brazilian cohort, pulmonary function test results, six-minute walk test results, and arterial blood gas results right after the end of tuberculosis treatment were compared with those obtained at the end of the follow-up period.

Results:

The three cohorts were very different regarding pulmonary function test results. The most common ventilatory patterns in the Brazilian, Italian, and Mexican cohorts were an obstructive pattern, a mixed pattern, and a normal pattern (in 58 patients [50.9%], in 18 patients [41.9%], and in 26 patients [44.1%], respectively). Only 2 multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases were included in the Brazilian cohort, whereas, in the Mexican cohort, 27 cases were included (45.8%). Mean PaO2 and mean SaO2 were lower in the Mexican cohort than in the Brazilian cohort (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.002 for PaO2 and SaO2, respectively). In the Brazilian cohort, almost all functional parameters deteriorated over time.

Conclusions:

This study reinforces the importance of early and effective treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis patients, because multidrug-resistant tuberculosis increases lung damage. When patients complete their tuberculosis treatment, they should be evaluated as early as possible, and, if post-tuberculosis lung disease is diagnosed, they should be managed and offered pulmonary rehabilitation because there is evidence that it is effective in these patients.

Keywords:
Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant; Spirometry; Rehabilitation

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Avaliar a função pulmonar em uma coorte de pacientes com história de tuberculose pulmonar no Brasil, bem como avaliar o declínio da função pulmonar ao longo do tempo e compará-lo com o observado em coortes semelhantes no México e Itália.

Métodos:

As três coortes foram comparadas quanto à idade, tabagismo, testes de função pulmonar, teste de caminhada de seis minutos e gasometria arterial. Na coorte brasileira, os resultados dos testes de função pulmonar, do teste de caminhada de seis minutos e da gasometria arterial logo após o término do tratamento da tuberculose foram comparados com os obtidos no fim do período de acompanhamento.

Resultados:

As três coortes foram muito diferentes quanto aos resultados dos testes de função pulmonar. Os padrões ventilatórios mais comuns nas coortes brasileira, italiana e mexicana foram o padrão obstrutivo, o padrão misto e o padrão normal [em 58 pacientes (50,9%), em 18 pacientes (41,9%) e em 26 pacientes (44,1%), respectivamente]. Apenas 2 casos de tuberculose multirresistente foram incluídos na coorte brasileira, ao passo que na coorte mexicana foram incluídos 27 casos (45,8%). As médias da PaO2 e SaO2 foram mais baixas na coorte mexicana do que na brasileira (p < 0,0001 e p < 0,002 para PaO2 e SaO2, respectivamente). Na coorte brasileira, quase todos os parâmetros funcionais se deterioraram ao longo do tempo.

Conclusões:

Este estudo reforça a importância do tratamento precoce e eficaz de pacientes com tuberculose sensível, pois a tuberculose multirresistente aumenta o dano pulmonar. Quando o tratamento da tuberculose é concluído, os pacientes devem ser avaliados o quanto antes e, caso se estabeleça o diagnóstico de sequelas pulmonares da tuberculose, é preciso tratá-los e oferecer-lhes reabilitação pulmonar, pois há evidências de que ela é eficaz nesses pacientes.

Descritores:
Tuberculose; Tuberculose resistente a múltiplos medicamentos; Espirometria; Reabilitação

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis is a serious public health concern and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to the latest report by the WHO, 5.8 million people were diagnosed with tuberculosis and 1.3 million tuberculosis deaths occurred in 2020. In addition, COVID-19 has impacted tuberculosis control.11 Migliori GB, Thong PM, Alffenaar JW, Denholm J, Tadolini M, Alyaquobi F, et al. Gauging the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis services: a global study. Eur Respir J. 2021;58(5):2101786. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01786-2021
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01786-2...
,22 TB/COVID-19 Global Study Group. Tuberculosis and COVID-19 co-infection: description of the global cohort [published online ahead of print, 2021 Nov 11]. Eur Respir J. 2021;2102538. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02538-2021
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02538-2...
The number of newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases fell from 7.1 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2020. In addition, reductions were observed in the number of people receiving multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment (a 15% reduction, from 177,100 people to 150,359 people) and tuberculosis preventive treatment (a 21% reduction, from 3.6 million people to 2.8 million people).33 World Health Organization (WHO) [homepage on the Internet]. Geneva: WHO; c2021 [cited 2021 Dec 1]. Global tuberculosis report 2021. Available from: Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1379788/retrieve
https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstream...

Tuberculosis affects predominantly the lungs, and many patients, despite a bacteriologically confirmed cure, will have tuberculosis sequelae, with loss of lung function and chronic respiratory symptoms, as well as decreased exercise capacity and quality of life.44 Visca D, Centis R, Munoz-Torrico M, Pontali E. Post-tuberculosis sequelae: the need to look beyond treatment outcome. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(8):761-762. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0488
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0488...

5 Visca D, Zampogna E, Sotgiu G, Centis R, Saderi L, D'Ambrosio L, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in patients with tuberculosis pulmonary sequelae. Eur Respir J. 2019;53(3):1802184. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2018
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2...

6 Muñoz-Torrico M, Cid-Juárez S, Gochicoa-Rangel L, Torre-Bouscolet L, Salazar-Lezama MA, Villarreal-Velarde H, et al. Functional impact of sequelae in drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(7):700-705. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.19.0809
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.19.0809...

7 Vashakidze SA, Kempker JA, Jakobia NA, Gogishvili SG, Nikolaishvili KA, Goginashvili LM, et al. Pulmonary function and respiratory health after successful treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Int J Infect Dis. 2019;82:66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2019.02.039
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2019.02.0...

8 Chin AT, Rylance J, Makumbirofa S, Meffert S, Vu T, Clayton J, et al. Chronic lung disease in adult recurrent tuberculosis survivors in Zimbabwe: a cohort study. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2019;23(2):203-211. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.18.0313
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.18.0313...

9 Allwood BW, van der Zalm MM, Amaral AFS, Byrne A, Datta S, Egere U, et al. Post-tuberculosis lung health: perspectives from the First International Symposium. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(8):820-828. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0067
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0067...
-1010 Mpagama SG, Msaji KS, Kaswaga O, Zurba LJ, Mbelele PM, Allwood BW, et al. The burden and determinants of post-TB lung disease. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2021;25(10):846-853. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0278
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0278...
The prevalence of post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) varies widely, from 18% to 87%,1111 Ravimohan S, Kornfeld H, Weissman D, Bisson GP. Tuberculosis and lung damage: from epidemiology to pathophysiology. Eur Respir Rev. 2018;27(147):170077. https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0077-2017
https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0077-20...
depending on the population studied and the pulmonary function tests performed.

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease has recently published a core document on the importance of clinical evaluation of PTLD as soon as possible at the end of tuberculosis treatment.1212 Migliori GB, Marx FM, Ambrosino N, Zampogna E, Schaaf HS, van der Zalm MM, et al. Clinical standards for the assessment, management and rehabilitation of post-TB lung disease. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2021;25(10):797-813. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0425
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0425...
According to the document, one of the key research priorities is to describe the frequency and severity of PTLD in different populations.1212 Migliori GB, Marx FM, Ambrosino N, Zampogna E, Schaaf HS, van der Zalm MM, et al. Clinical standards for the assessment, management and rehabilitation of post-TB lung disease. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2021;25(10):797-813. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0425
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0425...
Indeed, although there is evidence that tuberculosis deteriorates lung function,44 Visca D, Centis R, Munoz-Torrico M, Pontali E. Post-tuberculosis sequelae: the need to look beyond treatment outcome. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(8):761-762. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0488
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0488...

5 Visca D, Zampogna E, Sotgiu G, Centis R, Saderi L, D'Ambrosio L, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in patients with tuberculosis pulmonary sequelae. Eur Respir J. 2019;53(3):1802184. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2018
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2...

6 Muñoz-Torrico M, Cid-Juárez S, Gochicoa-Rangel L, Torre-Bouscolet L, Salazar-Lezama MA, Villarreal-Velarde H, et al. Functional impact of sequelae in drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(7):700-705. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.19.0809
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.19.0809...

7 Vashakidze SA, Kempker JA, Jakobia NA, Gogishvili SG, Nikolaishvili KA, Goginashvili LM, et al. Pulmonary function and respiratory health after successful treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Int J Infect Dis. 2019;82:66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2019.02.039
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2019.02.0...
-88 Chin AT, Rylance J, Makumbirofa S, Meffert S, Vu T, Clayton J, et al. Chronic lung disease in adult recurrent tuberculosis survivors in Zimbabwe: a cohort study. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2019;23(2):203-211. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.18.0313
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.18.0313...
the evidence regarding the type of damage, the severity of PTLD, and patient prognosis is not clear, and between-cohort comparisons have never been done.

Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate lung function in a cohort of patients with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis in Brazil, as well as to evaluate the decline in lung function over time and compare it with that observed in similar cohorts in Mexico and Italy.

METHODS

In this study we compared three different cohorts to identify elements to improve screening and rehabilitation of post-treatment tuberculosis patients: a Brazilian cohort (n = 114), an Italian cohort (n = 43), and a Mexican cohort (n = 59). The study was approved by the local research ethics committees (Protocol nos. 2018-0682, 2215 CE, and C17-14 in Brazil, Italy, and Mexico, respectively).

The Brazilian cohort consisted of outpatients who were over 18 years of age, had a history of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis, were evaluated right after the end of tuberculosis treatment, and were followed for a mean of 8.3 ± 4.9 years at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre Outpatient Clinic, located in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. We retrospectively reviewed pulmonary function test results, six-minute walk test (6MWT) results, and arterial blood gas results at two different time points: right after the end of tuberculosis treatment and at the end of the follow-up period. Spirometry, lung volume measurements, and DLCO measurements were performed with a MasterScreen Body-PFT device (Jaeger, Würzburg, Germany). All tests were performed in accordance with recommended standards1313 Wanger J, Clausen JL, Coates A, Pedersen OF, Brusasco V, Burgos F, et al. Standardisation of the measurement of lung volumes. Eur Respir J. 2005;26(3):511-522. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.05.00035005
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.05.0003...

14 Graham BL, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Cooper BG, Jensen R, Kendrick A, et al. 2017 ERS/ATS standards for single-breath carbon monoxide uptake in the lung [published correction appears in Eur Respir J. 2018 Nov 22;52(5):]. Eur Respir J. 2017;49(1):1600016. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00016-2016
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00016-2...
-1515 Graham BL, Steenbruggen I, Miller MR, Barjaktarevic IZ, Cooper BG, Hall GL, et al. Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;200(8):e70-e88. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201908-1590ST
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201908-1590...
and with the use of predicted values for the Brazilian population.1616 Neder JA, Andreoni S, Castelo-Filho A, Nery LE. Reference values for lung function tests. I. Static volumes. Braz J Med Biol Res. 1999;32(6):703-717. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X1999000600006
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X199900...

17 Neder JA, Andreoni S, Peres C, Nery LE. Reference values for lung function tests. III. Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (transfer factor). Braz J Med Biol Res. 1999;32(6):729-737. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X1999000600008
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X199900...
-1818 Pereira CA, Sato T, Rodrigues SC. New reference values for forced spirometry in white adults in Brazil. J Bras Pneumol. 2007;33(4):397-406. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132007000400008
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713200700...
Ventilatory patterns (obstructive, restrictive, and mixed) were defined in accordance with the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) interpretative strategies for lung function tests.1919 Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Brusasco V, Crapo RO, Burgos F, Casaburi R, et al. Interpretative strategies for lung function tests. Eur Respir J. 2005;26(5):948-968. We also collected data on symptoms, BMI, smoking status, and bacteriological profile, as well as on radiological abnormalities, which were measured by using a scoring system proposed by Baez-Saldana et al.2020 Báez-Saldaña R, López-Arteaga Y, Bizarrón-Muro A, Ferreira-Guerrero E, Ferreyra-Reyes L, Delgado-Sánchez G, et al. A novel scoring system to measure radiographic abnormalities and related spirometric values in cured pulmonary tuberculosis. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e78926. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078926
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.007...

The Italian cohort consisted of patients with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis and successful treatment, admitted for pulmonary rehabilitation between 2004 and 2017. Details on the study population and the study itself have been presented elsewhere.55 Visca D, Zampogna E, Sotgiu G, Centis R, Saderi L, D'Ambrosio L, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in patients with tuberculosis pulmonary sequelae. Eur Respir J. 2019;53(3):1802184. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2018
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2...
Pulmonary function tests were performed in accordance with the ATS guidelines1313 Wanger J, Clausen JL, Coates A, Pedersen OF, Brusasco V, Burgos F, et al. Standardisation of the measurement of lung volumes. Eur Respir J. 2005;26(3):511-522. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.05.00035005
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.05.0003...

14 Graham BL, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Cooper BG, Jensen R, Kendrick A, et al. 2017 ERS/ATS standards for single-breath carbon monoxide uptake in the lung [published correction appears in Eur Respir J. 2018 Nov 22;52(5):]. Eur Respir J. 2017;49(1):1600016. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00016-2016
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00016-2...
-1515 Graham BL, Steenbruggen I, Miller MR, Barjaktarevic IZ, Cooper BG, Hall GL, et al. Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;200(8):e70-e88. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201908-1590ST
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201908-1590...
and the ATS/ERS interpretative strategies for lung function tests,1919 Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Brusasco V, Crapo RO, Burgos F, Casaburi R, et al. Interpretative strategies for lung function tests. Eur Respir J. 2005;26(5):948-968. with the use of the ERS predicted values.1919 Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Brusasco V, Crapo RO, Burgos F, Casaburi R, et al. Interpretative strategies for lung function tests. Eur Respir J. 2005;26(5):948-968.

In the Mexican cohort, as described previously,66 Muñoz-Torrico M, Cid-Juárez S, Gochicoa-Rangel L, Torre-Bouscolet L, Salazar-Lezama MA, Villarreal-Velarde H, et al. Functional impact of sequelae in drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(7):700-705. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.19.0809
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.19.0809...
all patients had bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis, and the functional impact of post-treatment sequelae was evaluated in those who were over 18 years of age and who had drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB) or MDR-TB. Pulmonary function tests were performed in accordance with the ATS/ERS guidelines and the ATS/ERS interpretative strategies for lung function tests,1919 Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Brusasco V, Crapo RO, Burgos F, Casaburi R, et al. Interpretative strategies for lung function tests. Eur Respir J. 2005;26(5):948-968. with the use of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III reference values.2121 Miller MR, Crapo R, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, et al. General considerations for lung function testing. Eur Respir J. 2005;26(1):153-161. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.05.00034505
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.05.0003...

Data analysis was performed with the IBM SPSS Statistics software package, version 22.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA). Data were presented as number of cases and percentage, mean ± SD, or median (IQR). The three cohorts were compared in terms of age, smoking status, pulmonary function test results, 6MWT results, and arterial blood gas results. Categorical variables were compared by Pearson’s chi-square test. Continuous variables were compared by ANOVA. In the Brazilian cohort, pulmonary function test results, 6MWT results, and arterial blood gas results right after the end of tuberculosis treatment and at the end of the follow-up period were compared by a t-test for paired samples. A two-sided p-value < 0.05 was considered significant for all analyses.

RESULTS

Description of the cohorts

Table 1 shows the characteristics of the three cohorts of patients with tuberculosis sequelae. In all three cohorts, males predominated (58.8% in the Brazilian cohort, 55.8% in the Italian cohort, and 52.5% in the Mexican cohort). The Italian patients were older than the Mexicans patients (mean age, 72.3 ± 9.0 years vs. 41.1 ± 14.1 years, p ≤ 0.0001). Current or past smoking was more common among the Italians (58.1%) and Brazilians (64.9%) than among the Mexicans (38.1%; p = 0.011).

Table 1
Characteristics of the three cohorts of patients with tuberculosis sequelae.a

Data on BMI and bacteriological profile were only available for the Brazilian and Mexican cohorts (Table 2). The mean BMI was 24.6 ± 4.9 kg/m2 among the Brazilians and 25.6 ± 5.1 kg/m2 among the Mexicans. Only 2 MDR-TB cases were included in the Brazilian cohort, whereas, in the Mexican cohort, 27 cases were included (45.8%).

Table 2
Additional characteristics of the Brazilian and Mexican cohorts.

Functional and radiological evaluation

The three cohorts were very different regarding pulmonary function test results. The most common ventilatory patterns in the Brazilian, Italian, and Mexican cohorts were an obstructive pattern, a mixed pattern, and a normal pattern (in 58 patients [50.9%], in 18 patients [41.9%], and in 26 patients [44.1%], respectively). DLCO was lower in the Brazilian and Italian patients than in the Mexican patients (p < 0.0001). Mean PaO2 and mean SaO2 were lower in the Mexican cohort than in the Brazilian cohort (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.002 for PaO2 and SaO2, respectively). The Mexican cohort showed a significant decrease in SaO2 during the 6MWT in comparison with the other cohorts (p < 0.0001).

Data on respiratory symptoms, as well as radiological scores, were available for the Brazilian and Mexican cohorts only (Table 2). Cough was present in 68 (59.6%) of the 114 patients in the Brazilian cohort and in 9 (15.3%) of the 59 patients in the Mexican cohort. Some degree of dyspnea was reported by 96 (84.2%) of the 114 patients in the Brazilian cohort and by 17 (28.8%) of the 59 patients in the Mexican cohort. The median radiological score was 5.0 (IQR, 4.0-7.3) for the Brazilian cohort and 6.0 (IQR, 3.0-10.0) for the Mexican cohort.

Evaluation of lung function over time in the Brazilian cohort

Pulmonary function tests were performed after the initial evaluation, although only in the Brazilian cohort. The mean time elapsed between the first and last tests was 8.3 ± 4.9 years. No intervention (pulmonary rehabilitation or surgical procedure) was performed between the first and last tests. As can be seen in Table 3, all functional parameters deteriorated over time, with the exception of RV in L, PaO2, and SaO2, which decreased over time, albeit not significantly. Post-bronchodilator FEV1 decreased from 1.7 ± 0.8 L to 1.4 ± 0.7 L (p < 0.0001). Post-bronchodilator FVC decreased from 2.6 ± 1.0 L to 2.3 ± 0.9 L (p < 0.0001). TLC decreased from 5.8 ± 1.8 L to 5.7 ± 1.7 L (p < 0.0001). DLCO decreased from 49.1 ± 16.7% predicted to 41.8 ± 19.9% predicted (p < 0.0001). The six-minute walk distance decreased from 431.1 ± 105.3 m to 369.3 ± 107.9 m (p < 0.0001), and the lowest SaO2 during the 6MWT decreased from 95.7 ± 2.2 to 94.6 ± 2.1 (p < 0.0001).

Table 3
Decline in lung function over time in patients with tuberculosis sequelae in the Brazilian cohort.

DISCUSSION

In the present study, tuberculosis was found to have a major impact on respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and exercise tolerance in all cohorts. In the Brazilian cohort, all of the parameters evaluated were found to have decreased over time. To our knowledge, this is the first comparison of cohorts of patients with PTLD in very different settings (North America, South America, and Europe).

A variety of sequelae can occur after tuberculosis, and many patients can present with persistent symptoms and reduced quality of life, as reported in the Brazilian and Mexican cohorts. Late diagnosis, increased number of treatments, extensive disease, MDR-TB, and untreated tuberculosis are usually associated with chronic impairment of lung function.44 Visca D, Centis R, Munoz-Torrico M, Pontali E. Post-tuberculosis sequelae: the need to look beyond treatment outcome. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(8):761-762. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0488
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0488...
However, even adequately treated patients (i.e., patients with microbiological cure) may be left with permanent pulmonary function abnormalities that will eventually impair exercise tolerance and quality of life, given the normal decline in lung volumes over the years.2222 Muñoz-Torrico M, Rendon A, Centis R, D'Ambrosio L, Fuentes Z, Torres-Duque C, et al. Is there a rationale for pulmonary rehabilitation following successful chemotherapy for tuberculosis?. J Bras Pneumol. 2016;42(5):374-385. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37562016000000226
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3756201600...
Despite being young, the patients in the Mexican cohort were severely compromised, which is due to a high proportion of MDR-TB cases in that cohort. Although lung function was less compromised in the Mexican cohort than in the Italian and Brazilian cohorts, the Mexican cohort had more severe hypoxemia at rest and during exercise. Sometimes the combination of a restrictive pattern of sequelae (such as pulmonary fibrosis) with obstruction can lead to normal spirometry results or mild airway obstruction, with severe hypoxemia.2323 Silva DR, Gazzana MB, Barreto SS, Knorst MM. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema in smokers. J Bras Pneumol. 2008;34(10):779-786. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132008001000005
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713200800...

The most prevalent abnormal ventilatory pattern was an obstructive pattern in the Brazilian and Mexican cohorts, whereas, in the Italian cohort, it was a mixed obstructive and restrictive pattern. There is a wide variability in pulmonary involvement of tuberculosis. Pulmonary function tests can range from normal to severe dysfunction.2424 Plit ML, Anderson R, Van Rensburg CE, Page-Shipp L, Blott JA, Fresen JL, et al. Influence of antimicrobial chemotherapy on spirometric parameters and pro-inflammatory indices in severe pulmonary tuberculosis. Eur Respir J. 1998;12(2):351-356. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.98.12020351
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.98.1202...
,2525 Maguire GP, Anstey NM, Ardian M, Waramori G, Tjitra E, Kenangalem E, et al. Pulmonary tuberculosis, impaired lung function, disability and quality of life in a high-burden setting. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2009;13(12):1500-1506. The type of ventilatory defect is also quite heterogeneous.2424 Plit ML, Anderson R, Van Rensburg CE, Page-Shipp L, Blott JA, Fresen JL, et al. Influence of antimicrobial chemotherapy on spirometric parameters and pro-inflammatory indices in severe pulmonary tuberculosis. Eur Respir J. 1998;12(2):351-356. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.98.12020351
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.98.1202...
,2626 Byrne AL, Marais BJ, Mitnick CD, Lecca L, Marks GB. Tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disease: a systematic review. Int J Infect Dis. 2015;32:138-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.0...
Actually, several studies have shown that lung function impairment is typically obstructive but occasionally restrictive.2222 Muñoz-Torrico M, Rendon A, Centis R, D'Ambrosio L, Fuentes Z, Torres-Duque C, et al. Is there a rationale for pulmonary rehabilitation following successful chemotherapy for tuberculosis?. J Bras Pneumol. 2016;42(5):374-385. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37562016000000226
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3756201600...
,2727 Tiberi S, Torrico MM, Rahman A, Krutikov M, Visca D, Silva DR, et al. Managing severe tuberculosis and its sequelae: from intensive care to surgery and rehabilitation. J Bras Pneumol. 2019;45(2):e20180324. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-3713/e20180324
https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-3713/e20180...

28 Amaral AF, Coton S, Kato B, Tan WC, Studnicka M, Janson C, et al. Tuberculosis associates with both airflow obstruction and low lung function: BOLD results. Eur Respir J. 2015;46(4):1104-1112. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02325-2014
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02325-2...

29 Pefura-Yone EW, Kengne AP, Tagne-Kamdem PE, Afane-Ze E. Clinical significance of low forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity following treated pulmonary tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2014;4(7):e005361. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005361
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005...
-3030 Jung JW, Choi JC, Shin JW, Kim JY, Choi BW, Park IW. Pulmonary Impairment in Tuberculosis Survivors: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012. PLoS One. 2015;10(10):e0141230. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0141230
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.014...
Host immune responses are probably a key component of this variable lung damage, but the specific factors associated with this damage remain unknown. An obstructive ventilatory pattern is related to excessive inflammation and, most frequently, to airway narrowing, pulmonary cavitation, and bronchiectasis. On the other hand, a restrictive ventilatory pattern is related to excessive fibrosis and presents radiologically as fibrotic bands, bronchovascular distortion, and pleural thickening.1111 Ravimohan S, Kornfeld H, Weissman D, Bisson GP. Tuberculosis and lung damage: from epidemiology to pathophysiology. Eur Respir Rev. 2018;27(147):170077. https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0077-2017
https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0077-20...
Several studies have demonstrated that a history of treated tuberculosis is a risk factor for COPD.2626 Byrne AL, Marais BJ, Mitnick CD, Lecca L, Marks GB. Tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disease: a systematic review. Int J Infect Dis. 2015;32:138-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.0...
,2828 Amaral AF, Coton S, Kato B, Tan WC, Studnicka M, Janson C, et al. Tuberculosis associates with both airflow obstruction and low lung function: BOLD results. Eur Respir J. 2015;46(4):1104-1112. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02325-2014
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02325-2...
,3131 de la Mora IL, Martínez-Oceguera D, Laniado-Laborín R. Chronic airway obstruction after successful treatment of tuberculosis and its impact on quality of life. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2015;19(7):808-810. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.14.0983
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.14.0983...
,3232 Menezes AM, Hallal PC, Perez-Padilla R, Jardim JR, Muiño A, Lopez MV, et al. Tuberculosis and airflow obstruction: evidence from the PLATINO study in Latin America. Eur Respir J. 2007;30(6):1180-1185. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00083507
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.0008350...
In a population-based study involving 14,050 patients from 128 countries, previous tuberculosis was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of COPD.2828 Amaral AF, Coton S, Kato B, Tan WC, Studnicka M, Janson C, et al. Tuberculosis associates with both airflow obstruction and low lung function: BOLD results. Eur Respir J. 2015;46(4):1104-1112. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02325-2014
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02325-2...
Furthermore, in a meta-analysis, treated tuberculosis patients were shown to be approximately 3 times more likely to develop COPD.2626 Byrne AL, Marais BJ, Mitnick CD, Lecca L, Marks GB. Tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disease: a systematic review. Int J Infect Dis. 2015;32:138-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.016
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.0...

Our study has some limitations. First, we compared different settings and clinical profiles. However, this becomes an opportunity to discuss how better to apply the new clinical standards for the assessment, management, and rehabilitation of PTLD.1212 Migliori GB, Marx FM, Ambrosino N, Zampogna E, Schaaf HS, van der Zalm MM, et al. Clinical standards for the assessment, management and rehabilitation of post-TB lung disease. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2021;25(10):797-813. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0425
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0425...
Second, it is difficult to estimate the role of smoking in lung function impairment because we had incomplete information on patient smoking habits (i.e., smoking history, in pack-years), which are difficult to assess because they are subject to memory bias. Despite these concerns, the strengths of our study are the completeness of functional evaluation in the three cohorts and the possibility (the first to our knowledge) to make an international comparison of PTLD patterns, including the evaluation of lung damage over time in one cohort.

In conclusion, the present study reinforces the importance of early and effective treatment of DS-TB patients, because MDR-TB increases lung damage. When patients complete their tuberculosis treatment, they should be evaluated as early as possible, and, if PTLD is diagnosed, they should be managed and offered pulmonary rehabilitation because there is evidence that it is effective in patients with PTLD.55 Visca D, Zampogna E, Sotgiu G, Centis R, Saderi L, D'Ambrosio L, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in patients with tuberculosis pulmonary sequelae. Eur Respir J. 2019;53(3):1802184. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2018
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2...
,2222 Muñoz-Torrico M, Rendon A, Centis R, D'Ambrosio L, Fuentes Z, Torres-Duque C, et al. Is there a rationale for pulmonary rehabilitation following successful chemotherapy for tuberculosis?. J Bras Pneumol. 2016;42(5):374-385. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37562016000000226
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3756201600...
,3333 de Grass D, Manie S, Amosun SL. Effectiveness of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme in pulmonary function and health related quality of life for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a pilot study. Afr Health Sci. 2014;14(4):866-872. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v14i4.14
https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v14i4.14...

34 Ando M, Mori A, Esaki H, Shiraki T, Uemura H, Okazawa M, et al. The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with post-tuberculosis lung disorder. Chest. 2003;123(6):1988-1995. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.123.6.1988
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.123.6.1988...
-3535 Visca D, Centis R, D'Ambrosio L, Munoz-Torrico M, Chakaya JM, Tiberi S, et al. The need for pulmonary rehabilitation following tuberculosis treatment. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(7):720-722. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0030
https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0030...
Preliminary data have shown that there is a significant improvement in the six-minute walk distance, lung function parameters (FEV1 and FVC), and median SaO2 after implementation of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program.55 Visca D, Zampogna E, Sotgiu G, Centis R, Saderi L, D'Ambrosio L, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in patients with tuberculosis pulmonary sequelae. Eur Respir J. 2019;53(3):1802184. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2018
https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02184-2...
Given that a decline in all lung function parameters was documented over a mean follow-up of 8.3 ± 4.9 years in the Brazilian cohort, additional prospective data are needed to determine whether pulmonary rehabilitation can improve the clinical history of PTLD.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study is part of the scientific activities of the Global Tuberculosis Network, hosted by the World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders.

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    de Grass D, Manie S, Amosun SL. Effectiveness of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme in pulmonary function and health related quality of life for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a pilot study. Afr Health Sci. 2014;14(4):866-872. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v14i4.14
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    Visca D, Centis R, D'Ambrosio L, Munoz-Torrico M, Chakaya JM, Tiberi S, et al. The need for pulmonary rehabilitation following tuberculosis treatment. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2020;24(7):720-722. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0030
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  • 1
    Study carried out at the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil.
  • Financial support:

    None.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    13 May 2022
  • Date of issue
    2022

History

  • Received
    22 Dec 2021
  • Accepted
    24 Jan 2022
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