PREVIOUS PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS AND COPD OUTCOMES

Background: -Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a recognized cause of permanent structural lung damage and post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD), both of which may contribute to the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although previous TB has been associated with impaired lung function, its impact on COPD outcomes remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of previous pulmonary TB on exacerbation burden and mortality among patients with COPD. Methods:-We conducted an observational cohort study involving consecutive patients with spirometry-confirmed COPD managed at the Pulmonology Department of Hassan II Hospital, Agadir, Morocco, between January 2022 and March 2024. Demographic characteristics, smoking history, clinical features, COPD severity, treatment, exacerbation frequency, and previous pulmonary TB were recorded at enrollment. Patients were followed until March 2025 to assess survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare survival between groups, and Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to identify independent predictors of mortality.