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Post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) refers to persistent respiratory impairment after completion of anti-tuberculosis therapy, leading to impaired quality of life (QoL) 1,2. The objective was to evaluate the impact of an individualized pulmonary rehabilitation program on QoL in PTLD, describing changes in functional capacity, symptoms, and inflammatory indices. A prospective controlled interventional study included 37 PTLD patients allocated to a Study Group (SG, n=19) receiving structured rehabilitation or a Control Group (CG, n=18) receiving standard care. Baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2) assessed 6MWD, TUG, dyspnea (mMRC), exertion (Borg CR10), QoL (SGRQ, EUROHIS-QOL-8, WHOQOL-BREF), and inflammatory indices. Within-group tests and difference-in-differences analyses were applied. Groups were comparable at baseline. SG improved significantly in 6MWD (+27 m), TUG (−0.70 s), dyspnea/exertion (mMRC −1.37; Borg −3.42), QoL (SGRQ −19.74; EUROHIS +8.37; WHOQOL-BREF +18.58), and inflammatory indices (all p<0.001 except TUG p=0.007). CG showed no functional gains and a small 6MWD decline, with only modest symptom and QoL changes. Difference-in-differences favored SG across most outcomes, with large effects for several endpoints. No serious adverse events were recorded. Individualized pulmonary rehabilitation was feasible and safe, improving QoL in PTLD while increasing functional capacity and reducing symptom burden, supporting integration into post-TB care and broader delivery models..
Piciorea et al. (Tue,) studied this question.