%0 Journal Article %A C. C. Leung %A W. W. Yew %A W. S. Law %A C. M. Tam %A M. Leung %A Y. W. Chung %A K. W. Cheung %A K. W. Chan %A F. Fu %T Smoking and tuberculosis among silicotic patients %D 2007 %R 10.1183/09031936.00134706 %J European Respiratory Journal %P 745-750 %V 29 %N 4 %X The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between smoking and tuberculosis (TB) among high-risk silicotic patients in Hong Kong. A cohort of 435 silicotic patients tuberculin tested from 1995–2002 was prospectively followed-up until the end of 2005. Baseline characteristics were analysed with respect to positive tuberculin reaction (≥10 mm) at baseline and subsequent development of TB. Smoking, alcohol use and body mass index were independent predictors of positive tuberculin reaction at baseline in multiple logistic regression analysis. Total cigarette pack-yrs did not demonstrate any significant effect. The annual incidences of TB were 1,841, 2,294 and 4,181 per 100,000 for never-, ex- and current smokers, respectively. On Cox proportional hazard analysis, current smokers have a significantly higher risk of TB than other silicotic patients (adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval (CI)): 1.96 (1.14–3.35)) after controlling for age, alcohol use, tuberculin status, treatment for latent TB infection and other relevant background/disease factors. A significant dose-response relationship was also observed with the daily number of cigarettes currently smoked. Smoking cessation may reduce 32.4% (95% CI: 6.5–54.0) of the risk. Smoking increases the risk of both tuberculosis infection and subsequent development of the disease among silicotic patients. %U https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/29/4/745.full.pdf