Eosinophilic bronchiectasis increases length and cost of hospitalization: a retrospective analysis in a hospital of southern China from 2012 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: The concept of eosinophilic bronchiectasis has received clinical attention recently, but the association between blood eosinophil count (BEC) and hospital characteristics has rarely been reported yet. We aim to investigate the clinical impact of BEC on patients with acute bronchiectasis exacerbation. METHODS: A total of 1332 adult patients diagnosed with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis from January 2012 to December 2020 were included in this retrospective study. A propensity-matched analysis was performed by matching age, sex and comorbidities in patients with high eosinophil count (≥ 300 cell/µL) and low eosinophil count (< 300 cell/µL). Clinical characteristics, length of hospital stay (LOS), hospitalization cost and inflammatory markers were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Eosinophilic bronchiectasis occurred in approximately 11.7% of all patients. 156 propensity score-matched pairs were identified with and without high eosinophil count. Eosinophilic bronchiectasis presented with a longer LOS [9.0 (6.0-12.5) vs. 5.0 (4.0-6.0) days, p < 0.0001] and more hospitalization cost [15,011(9,753-27,404) vs. 9,109(6,402-12,287) RMB, p < 0.0001] compared to those in non-eosinophilic bronchiectasis. The median white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte, platelet (PLT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in eosinophilic bronchiectasis were significantly increased. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that the high levels of eosinophil count (OR = 13.95, p < 0.0001), worse FEV1% predicted (OR = 7.80, p = 0.0003) and PLT (OR = 1.01, p = 0.035) were independent prognostic factors for length of hospital (LOS) greater than 7 days. CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic bronchiectasis patients had longer length of hospital stay and more hospitalization cost compared to those in non-eosinophilic bronchiectasis group, which might be associated with the stronger inflammatory reaction.

Photon-counting computed tomography in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: an initial experience

PURPOSE: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) accounts for a significant proportion of mortality and morbidity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate the performance of novel photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) in the detection of pulmonary parenchymal involvement. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with RA without a previous definitive diagnosis of ILD underwent high-resolution (HR) (0.4 mm slice thickness) and ultra-high-resolution (UHR) (0.2 mm slice thickness) PCDCT examination. The extent of interstitial abnormalities [ground-glass opacity (GGO), reticulation, bronchiectasis, and honeycombing] were scored in each lobe using a Likert-type scale. Total ILD scores were calculated as the sum of scores from all lobes. RESULTS: Reticulation and bronchiectasis scores were higher in the UHR measurements taken compared with the HR protocol [median (quartile 1, quartile 3): 2 (0, 3.5) vs. 0 (0, 3), P < 0.001 and 2 (0, 2) vs. 0 (0, 2), P < 0.001, respectively]; however, GGO and honeycombing scores did not differ [2 (2, 4) vs. 2 (2, 4), P = 0.944 and 0 (0, 0) vs. 0 (0, 0), P = 0.641, respectively]. Total ILD scores from both HR and UHR scans showed a mild negative correlation in diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (HR: r = -0.297, P = 0.034; UHR: r = -0.294, P = 0.036). The pattern of lung parenchymal involvement did not differ significantly between the two protocols. The HR protocol had significantly lower volume CT dose index [0.67 (0.69, 1.06) mGy], total dose length product [29 (24.48, 33.2) mGy*cm] compared with UHR scans [8.18 (6.80, 9.23) mGy, P < 0.001 and 250 (218, 305) mGy*cm, P < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: UHR PCD-CT provides more detailed information on ILD in patients with RA than low-dose HR PCDCT. HR PCD-CT image acquisition with a low effective radiation dose may serve as a valuable, low-radiation screening tool in the selection of patients for further, higher-dose UHR PCD-CT screening.

Artificial Intelligence-based CT Assessment of Bronchiectasis: The COPDGene Study.

Background CT is the standard method used to assess bronchiectasis. A higher airway-to-artery diameter ratio (AAR) is typically used to identify enlarged bronchi and bronchiectasis; however, current imaging methods are limited in assessing the extent of this metric in CT scans. Purpose To determine the extent of AARs using an artificial intelligence-based chest CT and assess the association of AARs with exacerbations over time. Materials and Methods In a secondary analysis of ever-smokers from the prospective, observational, multicenter COPDGene study, AARs were quantified using an artificial intelligence tool. The percentage of airways with AAR greater than 1 (a measure of airway dilatation) in each participant on chest CT scans was determined. Pulmonary exacerbations were prospectively determined through biannual follow-up (from July 2009 to September 2021). Multivariable zero-inflated regression models were used to assess the association between the percentage of airways with AAR greater than 1 and the total number of pulmonary exacerbations over follow-up. Covariates included demographics, lung function, and conventional CT parameters. Results Among 4192 participants (median age, 59 years; IQR, 52-67 years; 1878 men [45%]), 1834 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During a 10-year follow-up and in adjusted models, the percentage of airways with AARs greater than 1 (quartile 4 vs 1) was associated with a higher total number of exacerbations (risk ratio [RR], 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.15; P = .01). In participants meeting clinical and imaging criteria of bronchiectasis (ie, clinical manifestations with ≥3% of AARs >1) versus those who did not, the RR was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.31, 1.43; P < .001). Among participants with COPD, the corresponding RRs were 1.10 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.18; P = .02) and 1.32 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.39; P < .001), respectively. Conclusion In ever-smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, artificial intelligence-based CT measures of bronchiectasis were associated with more exacerbations over time. Clinical trial registration no. NCT00608764 © RSNA, 2022 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Schiebler and Seo in this issue.

Disease burden associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: systematic and structured literature reviews.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by reduced levels of circulating alpha-1 antitrypsin and an increased risk of lung and liver disease. Recent reviews of AATD have focused on diagnosis, epidemiology and clinical management; comprehensive reviews examining disease burden are lacking. Therefore, we conducted literature reviews to investigate the AATD disease burden for patients, caregivers and healthcare systems. Embase, PubMed and Cochrane libraries were searched for AATD publications from database inception to June 2021, in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Most published AATD studies were small and short in duration, with variations in populations, designs, measures and outcomes, complicating cross-study comparisons. AATD was associated with significant pulmonary and hepatic morbidity. COPD, emphysema and bronchiectasis were common lung morbidities, where smoking was a key risk factor. Fibrosis and steatosis were the most common liver complications reported in patients with a PiZ allele. Health status analyses suggested a poorer quality of life for AATD patients diagnosed with COPD versus those with non-AATD-associated COPD. The burden for caregivers included loss of personal time due to caring responsibilities, stress and anxiety. AATD was also associated with high direct medical costs and healthcare resource utilisation.

Evaluating hemoptysis hospitalizations among patients with bronchiectasis in the United States: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The burden of hospitalizations and mortality for hemoptysis due to bronchiectasis is not well characterized. The primary outcome of our study was to evaluate in-hospital mortality in patients admitted with hemoptysis and bronchiectasis, as well as the rates of bronchial artery embolization, length of stay, and hospitalization costs. METHODS: The authors queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) claims database for hospitalizations between 2016 and 2017 using the ICD-10-CM codes for hemoptysis and bronchiectasis in the United States. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate predictors of in-hospital mortality, embolization, length of stay, and hospital costs. RESULTS: There were 8240 hospitalizations (weighted) for hemoptysis in the United States from 2016 to 2017. The overall in-hospital mortality was 4.5%, but higher in males compared to females. Predictors of in-hospital mortality included undergoing three or more procedures, age, and congestive heart failure. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) was utilized during 2.1% of hospitalizations and was more frequently used in those with nontuberculous mycobacteria and aspergillus infections, but not pseudomonal infections. The mean length of stay was 6 days and the median hospitalization cost per patient was USD $9,610. Having comorbidities and procedures was significantly associated with increased length of stay and costs. CONCLUSION: Hemoptysis is a frequent indication for hospitalization among the bronchiectasis population. In-hospital death occurred in approximately 4.5% of hospitalizations. The effectiveness of BAE in treating and preventing recurrent hemoptysis from bronchiectasis needs to be explored.

[Bronchiectasis - a review].

Bronchiectasis is a disease that is characterized by permanent bronchial dilation. This can be localized or diffuse in the lungs. The disease can occur at any age and causes cough, sputum production and repeated infections. It is more common in women and incidence increases with age. Bronchiectasis is characterized by repeated episodes of worsening symptoms that are usually caused by respiratory infections. The cause of bronchiectasis can be unknown but it can be caused by respiratory diseases and diseases outside the chest. Examples of such diseases are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis in addition to immune deficiency. Disease profile is therefore different for each patient. Bronchiectasis is diagnosed with computerized tomography of the chest in addition to clinical symptoms. Workup to diagnose other diseases that could be causing it is therefore important. For that detailed history, physical examination and additional investigations are appropriate. Patients with bronchiectasis have decreased health related quality of life and increased mortality. Treatment focuses on treatment of underlying diseases, airway clearance and treatment of infections. Pulmonary rehabilititation is also important. Regular follow-up is important. This is a review on bronchiectasis that is intended for a spectrum of physicians, because bronchiectasis can be seen in primary care, hospitals and out of hospital.

Clinical features related to hospital expenses for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in China.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchiectasis is a common chronic airway disease. We investigated the economic burden and associated factors of bronchiectasis in China. METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we reviewed medical records of patients admitted to 18 tertiary hospitals during 2010 to 2014 with a bronchiectasis-related diagnosis. RESULTS: A total 5469 patients with bronchiectasis were admitted, accounting for 3.13% ± 1.80% of all discharged patients with any diagnosis during the same period; 13 patients died upon discharge. The median hospitalization cost was RMB 8421.52 (RMB 5849.88-12,294.47). Risk factors associated with hospitalization costs included age at admission (>70 vs. <40 years, odds ratio (OR) = 1.221, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.082-1.379; >80 vs. <40 years, OR = 1.251, 95% CI = 1.089-1.438), smoking (≤15 packs/year vs. non-smokers, OR = 1.125, 95% CI = 1.006-1.271; >15 packs/year vs. non-smokers, OR = 1.127, 95% CI = 1.062-1.228), length of hospitalization (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.046-1.054), combination antibiotic treatment (OR = 1.089, 95% CI = 1.033-1.148), cough (OR = 0.851, 95% CI = 0.751-0.965), dyspnea (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.878-0.984), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 0.935, 95% CI = 0.878-0.996), respiratory failure (OR = 0.923, 95% CI = 0.862-0.989), cor pulmonale (OR = 0.919, 95% CI = 0.859-0.982), and death (OR = 1.816, 95% CI = 1.113-2.838). CONCLUSIONS: Age, smoking status, symptoms, and respiratory comorbidities were associated with hospitalization costs of bronchiectasis.

Diagnoses and management of adult cough: An Indian Environmental Medical Association (EMA) position paper.

BACKGROUND: Cough is a common yet distressing symptom that results in significant health care costs from outpatient visits and related consultations. OBJECTIVE: The understanding of the pathobiology of cough in recent times has undergone an evolution with Cough hypersensitivity syndrome (CHS) being suggested in most cases of dry cough. However, in the case of productive cough, ancillary mechanisms including impaired Mucociliary clearance, in addition to hypermucosecretory bronchospastic conditions of Smoker's cough, asthma-COPD overlap, bronchiectasis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, need to be critically addressed while optimizing patient care with symptomatic therapy in outpatient settings of India. METHODS: In this review, evidence-based graded recommendations on use of antitussives - & protussives as a Position Paper were developed based on the Level and Quality of Scientific evidence as per Agency for Health Care and Quality (AHRQ) criteria listing and Expert opinions offered by a multidisciplinary EMA panel in India. RESULTS: Management of acute or chronic cough involves addressing common issues of environmental exposures and patient concerns before instituting supportive therapy with antitussives or bronchodilatory cough formulations containing mucoactives, anti-inflammatory, or short-acting beta-2 agonist agents. CONCLUSION: The analyses provides a real world approach to the management of acute or chronic cough in various clinical conditions with pro- or antitussive agents while avoiding their misuse in empirical settings.

Management of Australian Adults with Bronchiectasis in Tertiary Care: Evidence-Based or Access-Driven?

PURPOSE: Australian data regarding the management of patients with bronchiectasis is scarce. We sought to compare the management of adults with bronchiectasis attending tertiary Australian centres with recent national and international guidelines. METHODS: The Australian Bronchiectasis Registry is a centralised database of patients with radiologically confirmed bronchiectasis unrelated to cystic fibrosis recruited from 14 tertiary Australian hospitals. We excluded children (<18 years) and those with incomplete data, leaving 589 adults for cross-sectional analyses. We compared the proportion of patients receiving certain therapies, as compared to the proportion eligible for those treatments according to the current guidelines and baseline clinical information available from the registry. RESULTS: Pulmonary rehabilitation was attended by 22%, although it was indicated in 67% of the cohort. Airway clearance was undertaken in 52% of patients, although 71% reported chronic productive cough. Sputum bacterial culture results were available for 59%, and mycobacterial culture results were available for 29% of the cohort. Inhaled antibiotics were used in half of potentially eligible patients. Despite guideline recommendations against routine use, inhaled corticosteroids were used in 48% of patients. Long-term macrolides were used in 28% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies exist between guideline recommendations and real-world treatment of bronchiectasis in Australia, even in tertiary centres. These findings suggest the need for increased patient referral to pulmonary rehabilitation, increased attention to airway clearance, increased collection of sputum samples (especially for mycobacterial culture) and rationalisation of inhaled corticosteroid use. These findings encourage a review of treatment access and will inform ongoing education to promote evidence-based care for people living with bronchiectasis.

Correlates and assessment of excess cardiovascular risk in bronchiectasis.

Patients with bronchiectasis are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to identify factors associated with elevated cardiovascular risk in bronchiectasis, measured using aortic stiffness and cardiac biomarkers. In addition, we sought to compare these direct measures against calculated QRISK2 scores.Aortic stiffness, cardiac biomarkers and systemic inflammation were measured in 101 adults with stable bronchiectasis. In addition, clinical and demographic data were collected to allow calculation of QRISK2 score and the bronchiectasis severity index (BSI) for each patient.The BSI score correlated with measured cardiovascular risk assessments, partly due to greater exacerbation frequency and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s. Pulse-wave velocity was significantly higher in frequent exacerbators (≥3 events·year-1) than infrequent exacerbators (<3 events·year-1; 10.5 versus 9.2 m·s-1, p=0.01). In addition, frequent exacerbators had elevated serum C-reactive protein concentration, suggesting increased systemic inflammation (4.8 versus 2.2 mg·L-1, p=0.005). QRISK2 systematically underestimated cardiovascular risk in this population (median change in relative risk 1.29). Underestimation was associated with frequent exacerbations and male sex.Patients with bronchiectasis have greater cardiovascular risk than published reference populations. Excess cardiovascular risk is associated with exacerbation frequency and impaired lung function. Cardiovascular risk assessment in bronchiectasis should be individualised, as calculation tools are likely to underestimate the risk in this population.

The Objective Assessment of Cough Frequency in Bronchiectasis.

INTRODUCTION: Cough in bronchiectasis is associated with significant impairment in health status. This study aimed to quantify cough frequency objectively with a cough monitor and investigate its relationship with health status. A secondary aim was to identify clinical predictors of cough frequency. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with bronchiectasis were compared with thirty-five healthy controls. Objective 24-h cough, health status (cough-specific: Leicester Cough Questionnaire LCQ and bronchiectasis specific: Bronchiectasis Health Questionnaire BHQ), cough severity and lung function were measured. The clinical predictors of cough frequency in bronchiectasis were determined in a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Objective cough frequency was significantly raised in patients with bronchiectasis compared to healthy controls [geometric mean (standard deviation)] 184.5 (4.0) vs. 20.6 (3.2) coughs/24-h; mean fold-difference (95% confidence interval) 8.9 (5.2, 15.2); p < 0.001 and they had impaired health status. There was a significant correlation between objective cough frequency and subjective measures; LCQ r = -0.52 and BHQ r = -0.62, both p < 0.001. Sputum production, exacerbations (between past 2 weeks to 12 months) and age were significantly associated with objective cough frequency in multivariate analysis, explaining 52% of the variance (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant association between cough frequency and lung function. CONCLUSIONS: Cough is a common and significant symptom in patients with bronchiectasis. Sputum production, exacerbations and age, but not lung function, were independent predictors of cough frequency. Ambulatory objective cough monitoring provides novel insights and should be further investigated as an outcome measure in bronchiectasis.

Longitudinal assessment of sputum microbiome by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis is accompanied by chronic bronchial infection that may drive disease progression. However, the evidence base for antibiotic therapy is limited. DNA based methods offer better identification and quantification of microbial constituents of sputum than standard clinical culture and may help inform patient management strategies. Our study objective was to determine the longitudinal variability of the non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis microbiome in sputum with respect to clinical variables. Eighty-five patients with non-CF bronchiectasis and daily sputum production were recruited from outpatient clinics and followed for six months. Monthly sputum samples and clinical measurements were taken, together with additional samples during exacerbations. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the sputum microbiota was successful for 381 samples from 76 patients and analysed in conjunction with clinical data. RESULTS: Microbial communities were highly individual in composition and stability, usually with limited diversity and often containing multiple pathogens. When compared to DNA sequencing, microbial culture had restricted sensitivity in identifying common pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis. With some exceptions, community characteristics showed poor correlations with clinical features including underlying disease, antibiotic use and exacerbations, with the subject showing the strongest association with community structure. When present, the pathogens mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae may also shape the structure of the rest of the microbial community. CONCLUSIONS: The use of microbial community analysis of sputum added to information from microbial culture. A simple model of exacerbations driven by bacterial overgrowth was not supported, suggesting a need for revision of principles for antibiotic therapy. In individual patients, the management of chronic bronchial infection may be improved by therapy specific to their microbiome, taking into account pathogen load, community stability, and acute and chronic community responses to antibiotics.

Assessment of the quantity of microorganisms associated with bronchiectasis in saliva, sputum and nasal lavage after periodontal treatment: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The association between periodontal disease (PD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been widely studied, with aspiration of periodontal pathogens being one of the most accepted causal mechanisms for pulmonary exacerbation. Periodontal treatment (PT) was associated with a decrease in these exacerbations. Bronchiectasis is a pulmonary disease that has many similarities to COPD; however, there are no studies correlating this condition to PD thus far. This study will evaluate if PT reduces proinflammatory cytokines in serum and saliva, as well as halitosis and the amount of microorganisms associated with exacerbation of bronchiectasis in saliva, sputum and nasal lavage 3 months after PT. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A total of 182 patients with PD and bronchiectasis will be randomly allocated to group 1 (positive control; scaling and root planing (SRP)+oral hygiene (OH)) or group 2 (experimental; SRP+photodynamic therapy+OH). After 3 months, samples of saliva, nasal lavage and sputum will be collected to determine the level of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Porphyromonas gingivalis by quantitative PCR. This protocol will determine the efficacy of PT in reducing the most likely niches of bronchiectasis exacerbation by comparing pre- and post-treatment microbiology samples. Furthermore, there will be assessment of oral halitosis and verification of inflammatory cytokines in serum and saliva. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Universidade Nove de Julho. Data will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02514226.

Visual Assessment of Chest Computed Tomography Findings in Anti-cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is it Associated with Airway Abnormalities?

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the association between specific anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACCPA) and pulmonary abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) subjects. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) images of 83 subjects with RA were evaluated in a blind fashion. Enrolled subjects underwent autoantibody testing to determinate titer of ACCPA and rheumatoid factor, and pulmonary function testing. Visual CT assessment included lobar analysis for extent of semi-quantitative total interstitial lung disease score (ILDS) and each airway abnormality score (bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening, centrilobular nodules, and expiratory air trapping). Correlation tests, and simple and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the visual CT abnormalities, physiologic parameters, and autoantibody titers. RESULTS: ACCPA-positive subjects had a greater extent and higher prevalence of small airway abnormalities including centrilobular nodules and air trapping compared to ACCPA-negative subjects (all p < 0.05). Bronchiectasis and bronchial wall thickening correlated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity (FVC) (r = -0.236 and r = -0.329, all p < 0.05), and ILDS correlated with FVC and the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (r = -0.218 and r = -0.366, all p < 0.05). Bronchial wall thickening and air trapping correlated with ACCPA titers (r = 0.235 and r = 0.264, all p < 0.05). Air trapping and bronchial wall thickening were significantly associated with ACCPA titers. CONCLUSION: In ACCPA (+) RA, visual CT assessment of large and small airways beyond RA-ILD, which is attributable to RA-related autoimmunity, can provide valuable information regarding airway abnormalities, regardless of the patients' physiologic airflow limitations.

Bronchiectasis in older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : prevalence, diagnosis and therapeutic management.

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increases with age. Recent evidence suggests that the finding of co-existent bronchiectasis is becoming increasingly common, possibly because of increased use of high-resolution CT scanning in the assessment of patients with COPD. This may represent a distinct phenotype of COPD, but, nevertheless, it is likely to pose an increased burden to health services and challenges in determining the correct management of these patients. Here, we review the factors associated with bronchiectasis in older patients with COPD and the evidence for many of the therapies currently used in the treatment of patients, providing a rational approach to their management.

Trends in bronchiectasis among medicare beneficiaries in the United States, 2000 to 2007.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis is a potentially serious condition characterized by permanent and abnormal widening of the airways, the prevalence of which is not well described. We sought to describe the trends, associated conditions, and risk factors for bronchiectasis among adults aged ≥ 65 years. METHODS: A 5% sample of the Medicare outpatient claims database was analyzed for bronchiectasis trends among beneficiaries aged ≥ 65 years from 2000 to 2007. Bronchiectasis was identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification claim diagnosis codes for acquired bronchiectasis. Period prevalence was used to describe sex- and race/ethnicity-specific rates, and annual prevalence was used to describe trends and age-specific rates. We estimated trends using Poisson regression and odds of bronchiectasis using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2007, 22,296 people had at least one claim for bronchiectasis. The 8-year period prevalence of bronchiectasis was 1,106 cases per 100,000 people. Bronchiectasis increased by 8.7% per year. We identified an interaction between the number of thoracic CT scans and race/ethnicity; period prevalence varied by a greater degree by number of thoracic CT scans among Asians compared with whites or blacks. Among people with one CT scan, Asians had a 2.5- and 3.9-fold higher period prevalence compared with whites and blacks. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchiectasis prevalence increased significantly from 2000 to 2007 in the Medicare outpatient setting and varied by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. This increase could be due to a true increase in the condition or an increased recognition of previously undiagnosed cases.

The burden of disease in pediatric non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: The burden of disease in children with non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis is unknown. Our study aimed to identify the determinants of quality of life (QOL) and parental mental health in this group of patients and their parents and to evaluate the effect of exacerbations on these parameters. METHODS: Parents of 69 children (median age 7 years) with non-CF bronchiectasis prospectively completed two questionnaires (parent-proxy cough-specific quality of life [PC-QOL] and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale [DASS]) at stable and exacerbation states. Data on clinical, investigational, and lung function parameters were also collected. RESULTS: During the stable state, the median interquartile range (IQR) PC-QOL score was 6.5 (5.3-6.9) and the DASS 21-item questionnaire score was 6 (0-20). Being of a young age correlated with a worse QOL (r(5) = 0.242, P = .04) but radiologic extent, lung function, underlying cause, environmental tobacco smoke exposure, and chronic upper-airway disease did not influence these scores. Exacerbations caused significant worsening in the PC-QOL scores (median [IQR], 4.6 [3.8-5.4]; P = .001) and DASS scores (median [IQR], 22 [9-42]; P < .001; 38% with elevated anxiety, 54% with abnormal depression/stress scores during exacerbation). The presence of viral infection, hypoxia, and hospitalization did not influence the exacerbation PC-QOL and DASS scores. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant burden of disease, especially during exacerbation, on parents of children with bronchiectasis. Prevention, early detection, and appropriate treatment of exacerbations are likely to reduce psychologic morbidity in this group.

Predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital and long term outcomes of patients admitted to the hospital for acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis (AEB) has been evaluated in only a limited fashion. The resulting debilitation after an AEB can increase mortality. This study aims to evaluate the factors associated with mortality in patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis (AEB). METHODS: All charts of the patients admitted between 2003 and 2006 with an AEB were reviewed through an electronic database. Demographics, sputum cultures, pulmonary functions tests and other factors associated with long-term mortality were examined. The social security death index was used to determine long term mortality (http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com). RESULTS: Forty-three patients (13 men and 30 women) with a mean age of 71.8+/-11.8 were studied. The hospital mortality was 9% and one-year mortality was 30% with a median survival of 46.6 months. Variables associated with mortality were male gender (female vs. male (HR), 0.36; (CI), 0.14-0.98; p=0.045), use of systemic steroids (with vs. without steroids HR, 3.12; CI 1.08-9.02; p=0.036), decreased FEV(1.0)% predicted (HR, 0.96; CI 0.92-0.999; p=0.042), elevated creatinine (HR, 2.36; CI 1.093-5.10; p=0.029), history of smoking (HR, 0.283; CI 0.097-0.825; p=0.021), and mechanical ventilation (HR, 66.011; CI 6.64-656.76; p=0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Male gender, elevated creatinine, decreased FEV(1.0)% predicted, mechanical ventilation, history of smoking, and acute use of systemic steroids during the hospitalization were associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Non-invasive assessment of exercise performance in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: is there a CF specific muscle defect?

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral muscle dysfunction is increasingly recognized as complicating respiratory disease, but this is difficult to measure non-invasively. RESEARCH QUESTION: Can skeletal muscle function and efficiency be measured during exercise non-invasively using respiratory mass spectrometry (RMS); and is the known exercise dysfunction in cystic fibrosis (CF) children related in part to a disease specific defect of skeletal muscle, or a non-specific manifestation of chronic airway infection and inflammation. METHODS: Calculations of effective pulmonary blood flow and stroke volume, blood oxygen content and oxygen dispatch from the lungs, skeletal muscle oxygen extraction and consumption, anerobic threshold and capacity, and gross, net and work efficiency in 106 controls and 36 children (18 CF) with bronchiectasis, all aged from 8 to 17 years. RESULTS: Normal values for control subjects are tabulated. CF and non-CF bronchiectatic subjects had similar physiology, and skeletal muscle abnormalities could not be detected. Reduced oxygen dispatch from the lungs, due to an inability to raise stroke volume, without an increase in functional residual capacity was the major factor in reduced exercise ability. CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive RMS can be used to determine skeletal muscle function in children. The changes observed in CF subjects were very similar to non-CF bronchiectatic subjects and thus a CF specific defect was not demonstrated.