One year follow-up of respiratory health outcomes in adult patients with non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Abstract

Background: Non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis (BE) has gained interest in recent years. Unfortunately, little is known about longterm outcome and factors for deterioration in these patients. We aimed to determine the clinical, functional, physicological, and microbiological factors on health outcome in adult non-CF BE patients over one year. Methods: 55 non-CF BE patients in a specialized unit were included. FACED and BSI severity scores and HADS scores were recorded at baseline. Demographic information, clinical evaluation, hospital admission, microbiological analysis, Quality of life (QOL-BE) questionnaire and lung function test were performed at baseline and one year after. Results: In 55 (29F/26M, age: 45±17) patients, 42(76%) had extensive and 13(23%) had local disease. There were newly diagnosed comorbidities in 6 patients and newly added respiratory drug in 14 of patients over one year. In this cohort, a decline in FVC (2.8±1.0 L to 2.5±1.0 L, p:0.000) and in FEV1 (1.97±0.97 L/s to 1.4±0.6 L/s, p: 0.000) was reported. Sputum pseudomonas related with significant decline in FVC at this period (p:0.036). Fortunately, hospital admission rate decreased from 39/55(71%) to 10/55(18%) over one year (p:0.000). In QOL-BE questionnaires, respiration scores decreased from 68.0±26.8 to 54.4±26.8 (p:0.008) and respiratory treatment burden scores increased from 44.4± 23.6 to 57.0 ±29.1 (p:0.023) over one year. Conclusion: The lower rate of hospitalisation over one year is debatable inspite of decline of lung function and deterioration of respiratory scores in quality of life. Close observation and management in specialized unit may have decreased hospitalisation rate.