Clinico demographic profile of patients with bronchiectasis – A cross sectional study

Abstract

Bronchiectasis (BE) is a common but neglected chronic lung disease. Most epidemiological data are limited to cohorts from Europe and the USA, with few data from low income and middle income countries “Bronchiectasis” is a chronic debilitating respiratory condition, natural history of Bronchiectasis is variable, some patients have only a few chest infections per year with no disease progression overtime, while others have more frequent prolonged infective episodes and progress more quickly to respiratory failure with an associated increase in risk of death.A vicious cycle of infection and inflammation exists in damaged airways with patient suffering from persistent cough, purulent sputum production, recurrent chest infections and general malaise, associated with increased morbidity and reduced quality of life and socioeconomic, cost of long term management is significant. 162 CT confirmed adult patients≥ 18 years were included in the study, data of patients were retrieved demography, clinical features, causative factors, spirometry and imaging reports were studied and analysed. 162 adult patients were included in the study. Males (54%) and more than 50 years age group population [64%] was predominantly affected. 58% were non-smokers.Chronic cough (100%) with sputum production (86%) and fatigue (78%) were the most common symptoms, digital clubbing and crackles were the most common examination findings. Dominant cause of BE was post infection (46%) followed by COPD (20%), ABPA (10%) and miscellaneous causes. Obstructive abnormality (42%) was the most common spirometric pattern observed. Higher incidence of cystic BE (57%) was found in our study. Patients > 50 years and males were predominantly affected. Most of the study population had never smoked. Most common symptom found was chronic productive cough and fatigue. Etiology of BE is heterogeneous. Post Tuberculosis BE variety was common. BE in COPD patients was not less common. Central Bronchiectasis was not uncommon.