2023
Author(s): Linde LR, Readhead A, Barry PM, Balmes JR, Lewnard JA
Wildfires are a significant cause of exposure to ambient air pollution in the United States and other settings. Although indoor air pollution is a known contributor to tuberculosis reactivation and progression, it is unclear whether ambient pollution exposures, including wildfire smoke, similarly increase risk. Objectives: To determine whether tuberculosis diagnosis was associated with recent exposure to acute outdoor air pollution events, including those caused by wildfire smoke. Methods: We conducted a case-crossover analysis of 6,238 patients aged ⩾15 years diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease between 2014 and 2019 in 8 California counties. Using geocoded address data, we characterized individuals' daily exposure to <2.5 μm-diameter particulate matter (PM(2.5)) during counterfactual risk periods 3-6 months before tuberculosis diagnosis (hazard period) and the same time 1 year previously (control period). We compared the frequency of residential PM(2.5) exposures exceeding 35 μg/m(3) (PM(2.5) events) overall and for wildfire-associated and nonwildfire events during individuals' hazard and control periods. Measurements and Main Results: In total, 3,139 patients experienced 1 or more PM(2.5) events during the hazard period, including 671 experiencing 1 or more wildfire-associated events. Adjusted odds of tuberculosis diagnosis increased by 5% (95% confidence interval, 3-6%) with each PM(2.5) event experienced over the 6-month observation period. Each wildfire-associated PM(2.5) event was associated with 23% (19-28%) higher odds of tuberculosis diagnosis in this time window, whereas no association was apparent for nonwildfire-associated events. Conclusions: Residential exposure to wildfire-associated ambient air pollution is associated with an increased risk of active tuberculosis diagnosis.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202203-0457OC