Health-related quality of life after pulmonary tuberculosis in South Korea: analysis from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2010 and 2018

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have reported an association between tuberculosis and health-related quality of life, the change in health-related quality of life after pulmonary tuberculosis has been rarely studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of past history of pulmonary tuberculosis on health-related quality of life using a nationwide, cross-sectional, observational study in Korea. METHODS: Among 72,751 people selected using a stratified multi-stage sampling method, 7260 Korean participants were included using propensity score matching. Past history of pulmonary tuberculosis was defined as a previous diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis excluding patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The primary outcome, health-related quality of life, was assessed by EQ-5D disutility. RESULTS: Before matching, the mean EQ-5D of individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis history was lower (0.066 vs. 0.056, p: 0.009). However, the difference was nullified after matching (0.066 vs. 0.062, p = 0.354). In multivariable Poisson regression analysis, EQ-5D disutility score was not associated with past pulmonary tuberculosis history. In subgroup analysis, past pulmonary tuberculosis history increased odds of low health-related quality of life in young (odds ratio [OR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–2.11, p = 0.003), unmarried (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.05–3.73, p = 0.036), or separated patients (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02–1.66, p = 0.032). Age and marital status were modulating factors on the effect of past pulmonary tuberculosis history on health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in health-related quality of life between individuals with and without past pulmonary tuberculosis history. Young and unmarried groups had increased odds for low health-related quality of life after pulmonary tuberculosis due to modulating effects of age and marital status. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12955-021-01833-6.