Smoking increases the risk of relapse after successful tuberculosis treatment.
BACKGROUND
Recent tobacco smoking has been identified as a risk factor for developing tuberculosis, and two studies which have investigated its association with relapse of tuberculosis after completion of treatment had conflicting results (and did not control for confounding). The objective of this study was to investigate risk factors for tuberculosis relapse, with emphasis on smoking.


METHODS
A cohort of newly diagnosed TB cases was followed up from their discharge after completion of treatment (in 2001-2003) until October 2006 and relapses of tuberculosis ascertained during that period. A case of relapse was defined as a patient who started a second treatment during the follow up.


RESULTS
Smoking (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.23-5.21) and living in an area where the family health program was not implemented (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.46-8.93) were found to be independently associated with relapse of tuberculosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results establish that smoking is associated with relapse of tuberculosis even after adjustment for the socioeconomic variables. Smoking cessation support should be incorporated in the strategies to improve effectiveness of Tuberculosis Control Programs.
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Joanna
J
d'Arc Lyra Batista
Maria
M
de Fátima Pessoa Militão de Albuquerque
Ricardo Arraes
RA
de Alencar Ximenes
Laura Cunha
LC
Rodrigues
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000995:Antitubercular Agents