Clinical, Radiological and Spirometric Profiles in Post Tuberculosis Lung Disease Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a primary global health concern, with significant post treatment sequelae affecting survivors. Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) often leads to irreversible structural lung damage, collectively termed Post Tuberculosis Lung Disease (PTLD), which leads to chronic respiratory abnormalities, impacting Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Despite microbiological cure, patients continue to suffer significant morbidity; however, data on PTLD’s clinicoradiological profile and impact on Quality of Life (QoL) remain scarce. Aim: To characterise the clinicoradiological patterns, spirometry abnormalities and health-related QoL in PTLD patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India, from October 2022 to March 2024. It enrolled 103 microbiologically cured patients with PTB who had radiological sequelae. Of 103 patients initially screened, three were excluded (two for active TB, one for foreign body obstruction), resulting in a final analysis cohort of 100 patients with radiologically confirmed PTLD. Participants underwent a comprehensive assessment, including clinical symptom profiling, physical examination, chest radiography, High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT), American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS)-compliant spirometry and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for QoL evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0, with non parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U) and a significance threshold of p-value ≤0.05. Results: The mean age in the cohort was 51.39±13.73 years, with male predominance (71%). Common symptoms included cough (54%), breathlessness (40%) and haemoptysis (28%). Radiologically, fibrosis (56%) and emphysema (38%) were the predominant findings. Spirometry revealed a mixed pattern (52.1%) as the most common abnormality. SGRQ revealed severe QoL impairment (Total score: 58.8±10.6), with the Symptoms domain most affected (81.8±14.6). Haemoptysis was significantly associated with worse QoL (Total SGRQ: 67.5 vs. 52.3; p-value=0.008). Conclusion: PTLD leads to persistent respiratory symptoms, structural lung damage and impaired HRQoL. Early recognition and multidisciplinary management, including pulmonary rehabilitation and psychological support, are essential to mitigate long-term disability