Table 3 Patient demographics, symptoms, predisposing conditions, underlying respiratory diagnoses and radiographic features by ATS diagnostic group.

From: Clinical relevance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from respiratory specimens: seven year experience in a UK hospital

Characteristics

ATS Positive (n = 112)

ATS Negative (n = 332)

Total (n = 444)

Demography

Mean age (years)

65

67

 

Female

59 (51.8)

150 (45.18)

209 (47.07)

First isolate?

Yes

99 (86.8)

305 (91.87)

404 (90.99)

Site

Sputum****

78 (61.90)

301 (90.12)

379 (82.39)

BAL****

48 (38.10)

33 (9.88)

81 (17.61)

Symptoms

Productive cough*

89 (79.46)

227 (68.37)

316 (71.17)

Haemoptysis*

22 (19.64)

34 (10.24)

56 (12.61)

Dyspnoea

26 (23.21)

71 (21.39)

97 (21.85)

Fever**

14 (12.50)

12 (3.61)

26 (5.86)

Night sweats*

15 (13.39)

19 (5.72)

34 (7.66)

Weight loss****

40 (35.71)

53 (15.96)

93 (20.95)

Fatigue

6 (5.36)

16 (4.82)

22 (4.95)

Underlying lung disease

Yes

99 (88.39)

281 (84.64)

380 (85.59)

TB

11 (9.82)

39 (11.75)

50 (11.26)

Bronchiectasis

43 (38.39)

146 (43.98)

189 (42.57)

Asthma

19 (16.96)

63 (18.98)

82 (18.47)

COPD

50 (44.64)

124 (37.35)

174 (39.19)

Pulmonary Fibrosis

6 (5.36)

16 (4.82)

22 (4.95)

Lung carcinoma

—

16 (4.82)

16 (3.60)

Other#

10 (8.93)

20 (6.02)

30 (6.76)

Predisposing conditions

Inhaled corticosteroids

68 (60.71)

181 (54.52)

249 (56.08)

Alcohol dependence

3 (2.68)

7 (2.11)

10 (2.25)

Regular oral steroid use

16 (14.29)

36 (10.84)

52 (11.71)

HIV infection*

6 (5.36)

4 (1.2)

10 (2.25)

Haematological malignancy

3 (2.68)

8 (2.41)

11 (2.48)

Anti-TNF treatment

1 (0.89)

8 (2.41)

9 (2.03)

Other immunosuppressants∆

4 (3.57)

12 (3.61)

16 (3.60)

Radiological features

No thoracic CT available

5 (4.46)

91 (27.41)

96 (21.62)

Tree-in-bud****

23 (20.52)

11 (3.31)

34 (7.66)

Nodules****

33 (29.46)

30 (9.04)

63 (14.19)

Cavities****

51 (45.54)

30 (9.04)

81 (18.24)

Emphysema

5 (4.46)

20 (6.02)

25 (5.63)

Bronchiectasis

22 (19.64)

73 (21.99)

21.40)

  1. Results are shown as n (%).
  2. *P < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ****p < 0.0001.
  3. #Other respiratory conditions: aspergillosis lung disease (n = 17), Churg-Strauss syndrome/EGPA eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (n = 4) tracheobronchitis (n = 1), chronic bronchiolitis (n = 1), obliterative bronchiolitis (n = 1) cystic fibrosis (n = 5).
  4. ∆Other immunosuppressants: chemotherapy (n = 7), methotrexate (n = 4), sulfasalazine (n = 2), mycophenylate (n = 1) azathioprine (n = 1), undefined (n = 1).
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