Correlation between radiological scores and clinical and biological data in patients with bronchiectasis

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Bronchiectasis are a severe chronic disease with multiple complications which can threaten the patient live. Radiological scores can help in determining the most severe patient to give them a specific follow-up. <b>Aim:</b> Assess the associations between the severity of bronchiectasis assessed by radiological scores and the clinical and biological data. <b>Methods:</b> Retrospective study conducted on the records of patients with bronchiectasis confirmed by high-resolution thoracic CT scan, from 2016 to 2021 in pulmonary department of Mongi Slim La Marsa Hospital. Bronchiectasis associated to fibrosis or rheumatic pathology that can affect the thoracic joints were excluded. Patients with pulmonology resection or bronchiectasis on endobronchial obstacle were also excluded. The severity of bronchiectasis was assessed by radiological scores: Reiff and Bhalla scores. <b>Results:</b> A total of 75 patients was enrolled (mean age= 58±15 years; gender ratio F/M= 1.14). The mean value of Bhalla score was 12.8 ± 4.4 and that of Reiff score was 6.2 ± 3.7. Bhalla score was associated with active smoking (p=0,024), exposition to biomass (p=0,043), dyspnea (p=0,015) and matinal bronchorrhea (p=0,009). Reiff score was associated with white blood cells count (r=0,4 ; p=0,001), CRP level (r=0,383 ; p=0,001), matinal bronchorrhea (p=0,003) and hemoptysis (p=0,010). No significant association was found between imaging scores and pyocyanic colonization and nor with the number of hospitalizations per year and the number of cure of antibiotics per year. <b>Conclusions:</b> Bhalla and Reiff scores are predictive of important respiratory complains and Reiff score is associated with a persistent inflammatory syndrome.