Incidence and Predictors of Tracheobronchial Tuberculosis in Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Multicentre, Large-Scale and Prospective Study in Southern China

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) have a high risk of concomitant tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB), which commonly causes severe complications such as tracheobronchial stenosis. The prevalence and predictors of TBTB in China remain unclear due to the lack of prospective and large-scale studies. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> To investigate the incidence of TBTB in PTB patients in southern China, and elucidate the predictors of TBTB and related tracheobronchial stenosis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We prospectively performed bronchoscopy in PTB patients to diagnose TBTB at four medical centres in southern China from September 2015 to August 2016. Clinical and epidemiological data were recorded and analysed to determine predictors of TBTB and related tracheobronchial stenosis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 345 (23.9%) of the 1,442 PTB patients undergoing bronchoscopy were diagnosed with TBTB. Female sex (OR 2.53), age &#x3c; 50 years (OR 1.88), living in urban (OR 2.19), diabetes (OR 1.84), coughing (OR 2.61), and symptoms ≥4 weeks (OR 1.66) were predictors of PTB concomitant with TBTB. About 59.7% TBTB patients developed tracheobronchial stenosis, of which 23.3% cases presented severe airway narrowing. Female sex (OR 2.27), age &#x3c; 50 years (OR 2.11), shortness of breath (OR 1.97), and symptoms ≥4 weeks (OR 1.71) were predictors of TBTB-related tracheobronchial stenosis. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> About 23.9% of PTB patients undergoing bronchoscopy present with TBTB in Guangdong province, southern China. Young and middle-aged females with symptoms persisting for ≥4 weeks (the main predictors of TBTB and related tracheobronchial stenosis) should receive bronchoscopy immediately when diagnosed with PTB.