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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 16, Number 4

Impact of non-tuberculous mycobacteria on pulmonary function decline in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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Objective: Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common form of structural lung disease associated with pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection, no longitudinal studies have investigated the role of NTM in COPD disease progression.

Design: From 2000 to 2008, spirometry-confirmed COPD patients with sputum specimens sent for mycobacterial cultures were included. Analysis of clinical, microbiological and pulmonary function data was performed.

Results: The 251 patients were divided into three groups according to the number of NTM isolates: multiple (n = 47), single (n = 63), and no (n = 141) isolates. Mycobacterium avium complex was the most common species in multiple isolates (36.2%) and single isolate (28.6%) groups. Overall, 24.7% of COPD patients had been admitted for exacerbations at least once a year, and patients with multiple and single NTM isolates were more than twice as likely as those with no isolate to experience such exacerbations (38.3% vs. 31.7% vs. 17.0%). After controlling for confounders, patients with multiple NTM isolates had a greater decline in forced expiratory volume in one second than those with single or no isolates (−79.4 ± 32.8 ml vs. −61.6 ± 31.9 ml and −56.2 ± 31.5 ml).

Conclusion: This study suggests that NTM may play a role in disease progression and deterioration of pulmonary function in COPD patients.

Keywords: Taiwan; exacerbation; pulmonary function testing

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Internal Medicine, and Department of Traumatology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan 2: School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan 3: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan 4: Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Publication date: 01 April 2012

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

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