Clinical characteristics in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and co-existing airway diseases in Chinese population

Abstract

Introduction: Bronchiectasis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common respiratory diseases among the Chinese population. Co-existing bronchiectasis with asthma or COPD are more recognised in recent years. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis with co-existing asthma and COPD in a Chinese population in Queen Mary Hospital. Total 350 Chinese patients were included in the study. Results: Patients with bronchiectasis and co-existing COPD are older, more smoker, more likely to have dyspnoea, with lower FEV1/FVC ratio and higher risk of exacerbation requiring hospitalisation compared with those with pure bronchiectasis. For patients with co-existing asthma and bronchiectasis, they are younger, diagnosed to have bronchiectasis at younger age and have lower FEV1 compared than those with pure bronchiectasis. Conclusion: Co-existing asthma or COPD with bronchiectasis have distinct clinical characteristics which have therapeutic and prognostic implications.