Effect of Radiological Patterns on Response to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Post-tuberculosis Lung Sequelae: A Prospective Observational Study.
Fibrocavitary plus bronchiectasis pattern showed smallest FEV1% gain after rehabilitation
Effect of Radiological Patterns on Response to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Post-tuberculosis Lung Sequelae: A Prospective Observational Study.
Post-tuberculosis sequelae (post-tuberculosis sequelae) are increasingly recognized as a significant cause of long-term respiratory morbidity, manifesting with dyspnea, reduced pulmonary function, impaired exercise capacity, and diminished quality of life.
To evaluate the impact of a 24-week pulmonary rehabilitation program on clinical, functional, psychological, and radiological outcomes in patients with post-tuberculosis sequelae, and to compare the response among different radiological subtypes-fibrosis, fibrocavitary lesions, bronchiectasis, and combined lesions.
In this prospective observational study, 60 patients with post-tuberculosis sequelae underwent hospital- or home-based pulmonary rehabilitation.
least FEV1% improvement of all radiological patterns
Significant improvements were observed in BMI ( p < 0.005), 6MWT (mean improvement >150 m in most groups), and DASS-21 scores across all radiological subtypes.
Quality of life (SGRQ) improved in all groups, though intergroup differences were not statistically significant.
Bronchodilator reversibility was rare (5%) and did not vary with lesion type.
Pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improves nutritional status, exercise capacity, psychological well-being, and spirometric parameters in post-tuberculosis sequelae patients, with variable responses depending on radiological pattern.
Despite greater impairment, patients with fibrocavitary lesions derived meaningful benefit, highlighting pulmonary rehabilitation's role as an essential component of post-TB care.
Tailored pulmonary rehabilitation strategies should be integrated into national TB programs to address the long-term sequelae of TB in high-burden settings such as India.