Is pulmonary tuberculosis a true risk-factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

This viewpoint discusses the possible relationship of tuberculosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pulmonary tuberculosis as a risk factor and/or complication of COPD is reported in several reports from African and Asian countries. History of TB seems to have an important role in the natural history of COPD. It is difficult to conclude whether this is a true causal relationship or merely an incidental observation due to the concurrent presence of the two commonly prevalent diseases and their risk factors. Many of these disease and treatment-related factors can promote and/or aggravate disease condition.