Summary of the relevant issues for smoking cessation in patients with tuberculosis (TB)
| Smoking rate among people with TB is higher than in the general population |
| Smoking is an important risk factor for both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB |
| TB risk increases in those exposed to passive smoking |
| Smoking leads to worse TB outcomes |
| Smokers present later to healthcare providers |
| Smokers are less compliant with TB medications |
| Smoking alters immunological responses and reduces mucociliary clearance |
| Smoking increases clearance of TB medications |
| Smoking cessation strategies for TB patients include: a combination of counselling (brief behavioural intervention at diagnosis followed by monthly behavioural support throughout the TB treatment course) and pharmacological treatment (nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion and varenicline) |