ObjectivesPrevious studies suggested the association of air pollution with initial Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and the disease development. However, few studies have been conducted on air pollution and initial tuberculosis (TB) consults using short-interval data. We investigated the weekly association between air pollution and initial TB outpatient visits.MethodsWe used a Poisson regression model combined with a distributed lag non-linear model to conduct a time-series study with weekly air pollution data and TB cases during 2014โ2017 in Wuhan, China.ResultsA 10โยตg/m3 increase in NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) was associated with 11.74% (95% CI: 0.70 to 23.98, lag 0โ1 weeks), 21.45% (95% CI: 1.44 to 45.41, lag 0โ2 weeks) and 12.8% (95% CI: 0.97 to 26.02, lag 0โ1 weeks) increase in initial TB consults among all patients with TB, old patients (โฅ60 years old) and male ones, respectively. A 10โยตg/m3 increase in SO2 (sulfur dioxide) was associated with โ22.23% (95% CI: โ39.23 to โ0.49, lag 0โ16 weeks), โ28.65% (95% CI: โ44.3 to โ8.58, lag 0โ16 weeks), โ23.85 (95% CI: โ41.79 to โ0.37, lag 0โ8 weeks) and โ23.82% (95% CI: โ41.31 to โ1.11, lag 0โ16 weeks) increase in initial TB consults among the total, young (aged 15โ59 years old), old and male patients, respectively. In old patients, a 0.1โmg/m3 increase in CO (carbon monoxide) and a 10โยตg/m3 increase in PM2.5 (particulate matter) were separately associated with 42.32% (95% CI: 1.16 to 100.22, lag 0โ16 weeks) and 17.38% (95% CI: 0.28 to 37.38, lag 0โ16 weeks) increases in TB consults.ConclusionOur study first highlighted the importance of weekly association between air pollution and the risk of initial TB consults, which is helpful for the arrangements of TB screening and medical assistance.