Clinical, radiologic, and functional evaluation of 304 patients with bronchiectasis

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Bronchiectasis continues to be one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, with a probably underestimated higher prevalence than in developed countries.OBJECTIVE:To assess the clinical profile of adult patients with bronchiectasis.METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, radiologic, and physiologic findings of 304 patients with bronchiectasis confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography.RESULTS:Mean age of participants (45.7% males, 54.3% females) was 56 ± 25 years and 65.8% of them were lifetime non-smokers. Most common identified causes of bronchiectasis were childhood disease (22.7%), tuberculosis (15.5%), and pneumonia (11.5%). The predominant symptoms were productive cough (83.6%), dyspnea (72%), and hemoptysis (21.1%). The most common findings on chest examination were crackles (71.1%) and rhonchi (28.3%). Types of bronchiectasis were cylindrical in 47%, varicose in 9.9%, cystic in 45.1%, and multiple types in 24.3%. Involvement was multilobar in 75.3% and bilateral in 62.5%. Of 274 patients, 20.8% displayed normal pulmonary function test results, whereas 47.4%, 8% and 23.7% showed obstructive, restrictive, and mixed pattern, respectively. Patients with cystic disease had a higher frequency of hemoptysis (42%) and a greater degree of functional impairment, compared to other types.CONCLUSION:In patients with bronchiectasis from southern Turkey, generally presenting with recurrent productive cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, and persistent bibasilar rales, the etiology remains mainly idiopathic. Post-infectious bronchial destruction is one of the major identified underlying pathological processes. The clinical picture and the deterioration of the pulmonary function test might be more severe in patients with cystic type bronchiectasis.

A Study of Prevalence of Aerobic Bacteria and Fungi in Sputum Specimens of Patients with Post Tubercular Bronchiectasis

“…[4] The most commonly identified cause was post infectious (30.3%), mostly tuberculosis (27.2%). [4] Regarding the sex distribution, this study is in concurrence with above mentioned studies done by MA Habesoglu et al [5] and Amorium A et al [6] where women are affected more than men. The women affected were more than their male counterparts due to post infectious bronchial destruction caused by childhood TB, severe pneumonia and also due to the habit of voluntary suppression of cough among women which causes retention of secretions and development of bronchiectasis.…”

“…In a study by MA habesogluet al, where 304 patients with bronchiectasis were enrolled into the study, women were more predominant (54.3%). [5] In a study by Amorim A et al, there was a predominance of female patients (63.9%). [4] The most commonly identified cause was post infectious (30.3%), mostly tuberculosis (27.2%).…”

Impact of Different Etiologies of Bronchiectasis on the Pulmonary Function Tests

“…Of these, 67 were excluded due to the following reasons: cause of bronchiectasis not established or questionable (35), history of asthma (18), bronchiectasis associated with interstitial lung disease (10), and history of lung resection (4). Of the 112 individuals who were included in the study, 34 had sequelae of tuberculosis, 29 had a history of non-tuberculosis infections, 21 had CF, 11 had PCD, and 17 had rheumatoid arthritis.…”

Pulmonary function abnormalities in adult patients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis

“…This prevalence rate was higher than the 14.7% calculated for another recent retrospective study in Beijing 7 but lower than the 49.7% found in a Turkish study. 8 Immune deficiency was rare in our patient cohort as only one patient had a slightly decreased immunoglobulin G concentration of 4.97 g/l (normal range 7.2-16.8 g/l). Ciliary assessment was not performed in our study, which resulted in the under diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia.…”