Relationship between smoking and pulmonary tuberculosis based on positive sputum smears
Abstract
Introduction: Smoking and tuberculosis are the two major, global health problems. Not only active smokers but also passive smokers are at risk of becoming infected with tuberculosis. Through many mechanisms, smoking decreases immunity and predisposes to numerous infections. This has a negative impact on our health system. This knowledge of the association between smoking and tuberculosis can be utilized to develop a program for TB prevention and control. Method: This is a retrospective observational study carried out over a period of 18 months on 100 diagnosed cases of sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients undergoing treatment at Mumbai Maharashtra India as a part of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP). Results: 1+ sputum positivity was observed in a higher number of nonsmokers (77%) followed by ex-smokers (43%) and smokers (2%), 2+ and 3+ sputum positivity was observed in a higher number of smokers (63% and 35%, respectively) followed by ex-smokers (29%) and nonsmokers (18% and 5%, respectively). Conclusion: Smokers demonstrated extensive infiltrates as compared to nonsmokers. Additionally, as the severity of smoking increased (smoking index), and the bacterial load also increased (higher grades of sputum positivity). Smokers also had poorer treatment outcomes than did nonsmokers.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tobacco and COPD: presenting the World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco Knowledge Summary
- Comparative effects of e-cigarette smoking on periodontal status, salivary pH, and cotinine levels
- Association between exposure to environmental pollutants and increased oral health risks, a comprehensive review
- Influence of gestational window on offspring vascular health in rodents with in utero exposure to electronic cigarettes
- Natural products as kinase inhibitors in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and clinical trials
- Nicotine in electronic cigarettes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.