Changes in cholesterol level correlate with the course of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease

The incidence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (PNTM) disease is increasing in many regions of the world (1-3). PNTM disease frequently occurs in slender middle-aged and older females (4). Patients with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease have a small visceral fat area and low nutrient intake (5). BMI as a marker for nutritional assessment is correlated with disease spread (6). Nutritional assessment is thus important in PNTM disease