Tuberculosis recurrences and predictive factors in a vulnerable population in Catalonia.

Background: Patients with a history of tuberculosis (TB) have a high probability of recurrence because long-term cure is not always maintained in successfully treated patients. The aim of this study was to identify the probability of TB recurrence and its predictive factors in a cohort of socially vulnerable patients who completed treatment in the TB referral center in Catalonia, which acts as the center for patients with social and health problems.

Methods: This retrospective open cohort study included all patients diagnosed with TB who were admitted and successfully treated in Serveis Clínics between 2000 and 2016 and who remained disease-free for a minimum of 1 year after treatment completion.

Factors associated with smoking among tuberculosis patients in Spain.

Background: To determine the prevalence of smoking and analyze associated factors in a cohort of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in Spain between 2006 and 2013.

Methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study using a national database of TB patients, using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI).

Results: We analyzed 5,846 cases (62 % men, mean age 39 years, 33 % foreigners).