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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 20, Number 8

Open Access Successfully treated but not fit for purpose: paying attention to chronic lung impairment after TB treatment

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In 2013, 86% of patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) successfully completed treatment and were discharged from care. However, long-term studies in industrialised and resource-poor countries all point to a higher risk of death in TB survivors than in the general population. The likely explanation is chronic restrictive and obstructive lung disease consequent to TB. We call for better linkages between TB control programmes and respiratory medicine services, a better understanding of the burden of respiratory disability at the end of anti-tuberculosis treatment, and political, programmatic, clinical and research action to improve the quality of life of affected patients.

Keywords: TB; chronic airway obstruction; chronic restrictive lung disease; respiratory physicians; sustainable development goals

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK 2: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France, National Tuberculosis Programme, Cotonou, Benin 3: National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK 4: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Hanoi, Viet Nam 5: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, Vital Strategies, New York, New York, USA 6: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France, Vital Strategies, New York, New York, USA

Publication date: 01 August 2016

This article was made available online on 27 June 2016 as a Fast Track article with title: "Successfully treated but not fit for purpose: paying attention to chronic lung impairment after TB treatment".

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

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