Particulate matter deposition and its impact on tuberculosis severity: A cross-sectional study in Taipei

Firdian Makrufardi1, Hsiao-Chi Chuang2, Chi-Won Suk3

  • 1International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada - Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Insights

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is linked to increased chest X-ray abnormalities in tuberculosis patients. Air pollution may worsen radiographic severity and treatment resistance, especially in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Particulate matter (PM2.5) is a significant air pollutant with known respiratory effects.
  • Tuberculosis (TB), including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), remains a global health challenge.
  • The specific impact of PM2.5 deposition on lung abnormalities in TB patients requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between lung lobe-deposited dose of inhaled PM2.5 and chest X-ray abnormalities.
  • To differentiate these associations across pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infections.
  • To explore the relationship between ambient and deposited PM2.5 and radiographic severity in different lung lobes.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 1073 patients from Taipei City, Taiwan (2014-2022).
  • Estimation of ambient and deposited PM2.5 in different lung lobes for each subject.
  • Regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, BMI, smoking status, and family income to derive β coefficients.

Main Results:

  • A 1 μg/m³ increase in ambient PM2.5 was associated with a 0.004 times increase in MDR-TB infections.
  • Increased PM2.5 deposition in specific lung lobes correlated with higher percentages of chest X-ray abnormalities in TB patients.
  • PM2.5 deposition in the alveolar region was linked to increased abnormalities in specific lobes of MDR-TB patients.

Conclusions:

  • Inhaled PM2.5 deposition is associated with exacerbated radiographic severity of pulmonary TB, particularly in MDR-TB.
  • Particulate air pollution may worsen radiographic findings and contribute to treatment resistance in pulmonary TB.
  • Findings highlight the potential public health impact of air quality on TB management and outcomes.

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