Association of smoking with mortality among tuberculosis patients after successful treatment: a prospective cohort study

  Objective  To assess the relationship between smoking and mortality among tuberculosis (TB) patients after successful treatment for providing evidences to TB control and prevention.

  Methods  During March – August 2010, we consecutively recruited 634 first diagnosed TB patients with successful treatment registered in two counties of Jiangxi province; a baseline questionnaire interview and a 7-year follow-up survey were conducted among all the patients. Cox proportional risk regression model was adopted to evaluate the correlation of smoking with mortality among the patients.

  Results  Totally 59 deaths were observed among the patients by the end of follow up till August 30, 2018, with a mortality rate of 9.31%. The results of Cox regression analysis revealed following risk factors of mortality among the patients: being male (versus female: hazard risk HR = 2.474, 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.166 – 5.247), sputum smear positive (versus negative: HR = 2.204, 95% CI: 1.316 – 3.689), and with a smoking history of more than 30 years (versus nonsmoking: HR = 1.829, 95% CI: 1.020 – 3.279 ).

  Conclusion  Smoking could increase mortality risk among tuberculosis patients after successful treatment.