How tuberculosis affects the lungs: RSU invites participants for a study
To mark World Tuberculosis Day, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) invites anyone who has previously had tuberculosis and is currently experiencing difficulties breathing, a persistent cough, or similar symptoms, to visit the nearest tuberculosis and lung disease clinic or a pulmonologist to find out about the possibility to participate in a lung health study. Participation in the study offers an opportunity to undergo a comprehensive health check while also contributing to research by helping improve the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases today and in the future.
To better understand how tuberculosis affects the lungs in the long term, in 2025, RSU launched the fundamental and applied research project ‘Markers of lung damage in tuberculosis-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (TRACE COPD)’. The study aims to determine whether the lung damage caused by tuberculosis can contribute to the development of chronic lung disease and how it differs from damage caused by smoking.
Participation in the study and health checks
Latvian residents 18 and older, who have previously had tuberculosis and still experience respiratory symptoms, or who have had changes recorded in lung examinations, are invited to participate in the study. Residents are encouraged to visit their nearest tuberculosis clinic or a pulmonologist. There are more than 20 such clinics across the major cities and regional centres of Latvia, where patients can receive consultations and any necessary initial examination. More in-depth examinations for the study are subsequently conducted at the Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Centre of the Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) in Upeslejas, Stopiņi parish, Ropaži region.
Collaboration and patient involvement
Prof. Iveta Ozere of the RSU Department of Infectology and pulmonologist at the RAKUS Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Centre, emphasises that close collaboration with regional tuberculosis clinics and pulmonologists is essential for conducting this study. She notes that so far, the study has primarily involved residents from Riga and the surrounding area, but in order to fully assess the long-term consequences of tuberculosis and ensure the broadest possible dataset,
it is essential to reach patients in other regions of Latvia as well.
What is tuberculosis? The situation in Latvia
Tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by a bacterium. It most commonly affects the lungs, but it can also impact other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, or brain. Tuberculosis spreads through the air – an infected person can transmit it to others by coughing, sneezing, or talking. In some cases, a person can spread the disease even if they do not have obvious symptoms.
Data from the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control shows that tuberculosis continues to be a significant issue in Latvia. 281 cases were registered in 2024, which is 19% fewer than the year before. However, the incidence rate is still almost twice as high as the average in the European Union and EEA countries. Tuberculosis most often affects the working-age population, and about 70% of all patients are men. Every year, more than 60 people in Latvia die from tuberculosis or related complications.
