Outcomes and risk factors for mortality in patients with pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

Abstract

Abstract: This study evaluates 5-year survival in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease and examines the impact of risk factors, including comorbidities, patient characteristics and different mycobacterial species.We retrospectively analyzed comorbidities, patient characteristics, microbiological and radiological findings of adult patients hospitalized with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease at the Red Cross Hospital Bad Cannstatt, Stuttgart, Germany, between 2005 and 2019. Depending on the presence or absence of comorbidities and various risk factors, patients were grouped, and their 5-year survival following the initial diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease was compared. In addition, independent covariates were simultaneously analyzed to assess whether they were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality.In this cohort of 52 patients (mean age 64.2±12.2 years) with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease, the 5-year survival rate was 55.8%. Five-year survival was markedly lower among individuals with coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or heart failure as well as in those without culture conversion. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis of independent covariates, age and increasing Charlson Comorbidity Index scores were associated with reduced 5-year survival.A 5-year survival rate of less than 60% indicates a poor prognosis in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease, highlighting the need for more effective management of both the disease and associated comorbidities.