Abstract:Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-TB) complicated by pulmonary destruction, providing insights for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculous destructive lung disease.Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted, selecting 662 patients diagnosed with MDR-TB from January 2013 to December 2017 across 18 hospitals in 15 provinces. Among these, 73 patients with concurrent pulmonary destruction (pulmonary destruction group) and 589 patients without pulmonary destruction (non-pulmonary destruction group) were included. Demographic data, laboratory tests, drug resistance, tuberculosis history, Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome scores, radiological findings, and treatment outcomes were analyzed.Results The average age in the pulmonary destruction group was significantly higher than that in the non-pulmonary destruction group (P < 0.05). A higher proportion of patients in the pulmonary destruction group were farmers (P < 0.05). Elevated white blood cell counts and accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rates were more common in the pulmonary destruction group (P < 0.05). No significant difference in drug resistance rates was observed between the groups (P > 0.05). Time from initial diagnosis of tuberculosis to first diagnosis of MDR-TB and from first diagnosis of MDR-TB to treatment initiation was longer in the pulmonary destruction group (P < 0.05). Symptoms such as cough, sputum production, chest pain, dyspnea, and fever were more severe in the pulmonary destruction group (P < 0.05). The average number of affected lung lobes was greater in the pulmonary destruction group (P < 0.05). The cure rate was lower in the pulmonary destruction group (P < 0.05).Conclusions Attention should be given to MDR-TB patients with high-risk factors for pulmonary destruction, such as being middle-aged farmers, experiencing delays in diagnosis and treatment, and extensive lung lobe involvement. Strengthening supervised antituberculosis treatment throughout can reduce the occurrence of pulmonary destruction and improve cure rates.