Abstract
Pleural disease may have important functional consequences. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the pleural changes after tuberculosis on pulmonary function and quality of life (QoL) in patients cured for tuberculosis.
Methods: we investigated QoL and pulmonary function in 280 patients cured for tuberculosis (between the ages of 20 and 82 years). QoL was studied with Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). According their pleural changes all the patients were divided into four groups (1= not demonstrated, 2=small, 3-large unilateral, 4-large bilateral).
Results: The pleural changes were found to have a significant effect on the decrease in TLC and FVC. Restrictive pattern (TLC or FVC <80% predicted) was 5,5%, 13%, 12%, and 48% (p<0.01) and airflow obstruction (FEV1/FVC<0.7) was 38%, 34%, 41%, and 20% (p>0.01) in groups 1,2,3,4, respectively. Although QoL was worse in patients with large bilateral changes differences between groups in components of SGRQ were not statistic significant (but Activity score).
Conclusions: Functional sequelae of the pleural changes were restrictive in type and depended on their extent. We did not find the influence of posttuberculosis pleural changes on QoL.
- © 2013 ERS