Substantial Evidence of Association Between Tobacco Smoking and Increased Risk of Tuberculosis

A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health reported today using a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiologic data to quantitatively assess the association between smoking, passive smoking and indoor air pollution and TB. They found consistent evidence that smoking is associated with an increased risk of TB; they also found that passive smoking (secondhand smoke) and the burning of biomass fuels was associated with an increased TB risk.
Ref: “Tobacco Smoke, Indoor Air Pollution and Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,� Hsienho Lin, Majid Ezzati, Megan Murray, PLoS Med 4(1): e20.