"10.8 million people fell ill with active TB disease in 2023 worldwide as per the latest WHO Global TB Report. Out of these, 1.25 million died due to TB in the same year globally. However, if we look at tobacco use, there were at least 1.133 billion tobacco users aged 15 years or above. Over 8 million tobacco users lost their lives in a year," said Dr Bam. "At least 0.73 million people get TB disease in a year due to tobacco use, and 16% of them die due to the dual pandemic of TB and tobacco."
Dr Bam shared that a WHO and The Union monograph on TB and tobacco control shows how tobacco smoking amplifies the risk of TB infection, mortality, treatment relapse, heightened clinical severity, and delays in both diagnosis and treatment.
Another study done by Dr Tara Singh Bam, Dr Donald Enarson (legendary lung health expert), Dr Dirgh Singh Bam (former Health Secretary of Government of Nepal) and others, showed that there were worryingly long delays in TB diagnosis and initiation of treatment. Current tobacco smokers in Nepal had an average of 133 days of delay and ex-smokers had 103 days of average delay, compared to those who had never smoked but faced an average delay of 80 days. These delays in TB diagnosis and treatment result in mounting up catastrophic costs for many people in low- and middle-income countries.
Better TB treatment outcomes in those who quit tobacco
A study published in 2022 in the reputed journal Thorax showed that TB treatment outcomes were significantly better among those patients who had quit tobacco use during the TB treatment in Pakistan and Bangladesh. More than 91% of TB patients who had quit tobacco use during TB treatment were successful in completing the therapy (compared to 80% who did not quit tobacco use).
TB relapse rates were also higher among those who did not quit tobacco use during TB treatment- 6% among those who had quit tobacco use and 14% among those who had not quit tobacco use during the treatment reported TB relapse.
Leadership and accountability
Rights come with responsibilities. Dr Bam encouraged everyone to take individual responsibility to have a health seeking behaviour, help protect others from infection and access healthcare services promptly when needed. Current tobacco users also have a responsibility to quit tobacco use and stay away from deadly tobacco.
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