BACKGROUND:

Most of the previous reports found cirrhosis patients with a high risk of subsequent tuberculosis (TB). However, data about the risk of developing liver cirrhosis in TB patients are limited. As a hepatitis endemic area, the risk of liver cirrhosis in patients with TB should be elucidated in Taiwan.

METHODS:

We conducted the study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with TB (n = 9339) were identified as the TB cohort and matched with a control (n = 37 356). Each study participant was followed until diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, loss of follow-up, death, withdrawal from the insurance or until 31 December 2011.

RESULTS:

A cumulative incidence of liver cirrhosis in the TB cohort had a significantly higher risk for liver cirrhosis compared with the control (log-rank test, P < 0·001). The overall incidence of liver cirrhosis was significantly higher in the TB group than in controls [3·83 vs. 2·02 per 1000 person-year; crude hazard ratio (HR) = 1·88; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·59-2·23]. After controlling for age, gender and comorbidities, the risk was 1·79-fold (95% CI = 1·50-2·14) higher in the TB group than in the controls. Analysis by Cox proportional hazard regression revealed that TB increased the risk of cirrhosis in patients with either hepatitis B (adjusted HR = 1·91; 95% CI = 1·05-3·47) or hepatitis C (adjusted HR = 2·56; 95% CI = 1·37-4·78).

CONCLUSION:

An increased incidence of liver cirrhosis was observed among TB patients in Taiwan.