Abstract:
There is evidence from international studies that tobacco smoking increases the risk of tuberculosis recurrence through its effects on the immunological
and barrier functions of the airways. In this cross-sectional study, the association between current tobacco smoking and retreatment tuberculosis was
studied in a population of 1 926 South African tuberculosis patients with high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection rates. Retreatment
tuberculosis was more common in male and among HIV-positive participants currently on antiretroviral treatment, or with unknown antiretroviral
treatment status. However, we did not find an association between smoking and retreatment tuberculosis. A longitudinal study is needed to confirm
these findings.
