AUGUST 26, 2022

BMI, Ethnicity Increase Risk for NTM Lung Infection

By Ethan Covey

People who are underweight and who identify as Asian have the highest risk for developing nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infection (NTM-PI), according to a new study focused on residents of Hawaii (Emerg Infect Dis 2022;28[8]:1543-1550).

Previous reports found that risk for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease varies by ethnic group and geographic location (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2012;185[8]:881-886).

“Hawaii is a high-risk area for NTM with an ethnically