Tuberculosis survivors and the risk of cardiovascular disease: Analysis using a nationwide survey in Korea

Abstract Background Although the association between tuberculosis (TB) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported in several studies and is explained by mechanisms related to chronic inflammation, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the association between TB and CVD in Korea. Methods Using a population-based nationwide survey, we categorized participants into two groups according to the presence or absence of prior TB infection. We evaluated the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorder (ASCVD) risk in both groups and analyzed the 10-year ASCVD risk according to epidemiological characteristics. Results Compared with the control group, the post-TB survivor group had a higher mean age (53.73 vs. 45.35 years), a higher proportion of male sex (60.20% vs. 49.53%), and a lower proportion of unmarried individuals (10.01% vs. 23.01%). Comparing the 10-year ASCVD risk between the post-TB survivor and control groups, the post-TB survivor group had an increased 10-year ASCVD risk in the high-risk group (40.46% vs. 24.00%, P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the intermediate and high-risk groups had also significantly increased 10-year ASCVD risks (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.23 and OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.59–1.78, respectively) in the post-TB survivor group. In the association of CVD among post-TB survivors according to epidemiologic characteristics, age (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.10, 95% CI 1.07–1.12), a current smoker (aOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.32–5.17), a high family income (aOR 2.47, 95% CI 1.32–4.62), Diabetes mellitus (aOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.20–3.07), and depression (aOR 2.15, 95% CI 1.10–4.19) were associated with CVD in the post-TB survivor group. Conclusions Our study findings suggest a higher 10-year ASCVD risk among TB survivors than among control participants. This warrants long-term cardiovascular monitoring and management of the post-TB population.