Rehabilitation for individuals with post-tuberculosis lung disease

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a global clinical and public health threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. TB care has primarily been centred around timely diagnosis and expanding access to treatment. Post-TB lung disease (PTLD), characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms, functional impairment and structural lung changes, is highly prevalent among TB survivors, with a prevalence ranging from 40% to 90%. This requires an effort to evaluate TB survivors in need of further care at the end of anti-TB treatment, for consideration of pulmonary rehabilitation.

This review provides an overview of the current evidence and best practices in pulmonary rehabilitation for PTLD. This article aims to bridge the gap between evidence and practice, supporting tailored, multidisciplinary approaches to pulmonary rehabilitation, building on the existing experiences and challenges from diverse settings. Furthermore, this review supports the ongoing educational efforts of healthcare professionals to reframe TB care, placing long-term health and patient wellbeing at the centre of post-TB management.