title: [Respiratory functional changes in pulmonary tuberculosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of the study is to identify changes that occur in lung function in patients with pulmonary TB. The secondary objective is to determine the characteristics of bronchial obstruction associated with pulmonary TB.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were included in the study patients with pulmonary TB diagnosed in Bacau Pneumology Hospital between January 2011 and March 2012. Data was collected on gender, age, origin, education, occupation, smoking, and TB case category. Expansion of lung lesions was assessed on chest radiographs. Lung function was measured by spirometry and bronchodilatator test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group included 84 patients with a mean age of 44.9 years, predominantly male (86.9%6) and rural (61.9%). Investigation revealed that smoking status was 23.81% nonsmoking, 22.62% former smokers and 53.57% smokers. 64.29% of patients were new cases of pulmonary TB, 15.47% relapse and 20.24% patients with chronic pulmonary TB. Assessment of ventilatory function found 58.33% of patients with respiratory defects. These were mainly restrictive (33.33%), mixed (17.86%) and obstructive (7.14%). Obstructive and mixed ventilatory defects are significantly associated with age over 40 years (chi2 = 4.70, r = 0.419, p = 0.036, 95% CI), male gender (chi2 = 8.14, r = 0.688, p = 0.027, 95% CI), smoking (chi2 = 11.251, r = 0.758, p = 0.032, 95% CI), category of chronic case of TB (chi2 = 11.25, r = 0.475, p = 0.0008, 95% CI) and radiological lung lesions extension (chi2 = 8.128, r = 0.658, p = 0.01293, 95% CI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary TB is often associated wit significant functional changes, present since the early stages of the disease and which are often ignored. Early detection and proper treatment of TB could contribute to reducing the incidence of ventilatory defects associated with TB, and their rapid detection would allow better monitoring and thus improved quality of life of these patients. Extensive, multicenter, longitudinal studies are necessary to investigate and deepen knowledge of the functional consequences of tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Spitalul dePneumoftiziologie Bacău, doctorand Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Iaşi. marap658@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Apostu
authors.forename: Traian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mihăescu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006773:Hospitals, Municipal; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography; D012119:Respiration; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*