Prevalence of tobacco smoking in adults with tuberculosis in South Africa [Short communication]

We conducted a tobacco prevalence survey among 707 in-patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. Current smoking status was expanded to include both patients who self-reported at the time of TB diagnosis and patients who stopped smoking in the 2-month period before diagnosis. Six per cent reported current smoking at the time of TB diagnosis, 26% within 2 months before TB diagnosis. Human immunodeficiency virus status (73% positive) was not associated with current smoking. Classifying current smoking status among newly diagnosed TB patients should be extended to include smoking at time of the onset of TB symptoms.