COPD-related Bronchiectasis; Independent Impact on Disease Course and Outcomes

• Published in: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 605 - 614
• Main Authors: Gatheral, Timothy, Kumar, Neelam, Sansom, Ben, Lai, Dilys, Nair, Arjun, Vlahos, Ioannis, Baker, Emma H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.12.2014; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Airway; Bronchiectasis - complications; Bronchiectasis - diagnostic imaging; Bronchiectasis - physiopathology; Bronchography; computerised tomography; Disease Progression; emphysema; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Hospitalization; Humans; infection; Male; Middle Aged; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria - isolation & purification; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - isolation & purification; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - complications; Pulmonary Emphysema - complications; Pulmonary Emphysema - diagnostic imaging; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Sputum - microbiology; Survival Rate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; computerised tomography; infection; Airway; emphysema
• ISSN: 1541-2555; 1541-2563
• DOI: 10.3109/15412555.2014.922174

AbstractBackground: COPD and radiographic bronchiectasis frequently coexist but the effect of this on the clinical course of COPD is not fully understood. We determined the impact of bronchiectasis on clinical outcomes in COPD patients, independent of coexisting emphysema and bronchial wall thickening (BWT). Methods: COPD patients admitted with first exacerbation 1998-2008 were identified retrospectively using ICD10 codes J44.0,1,8,9. Patients with suitable CT scans were graded for severity of bronchiectasis, emphysema and BWT on a 5 point scale (0-absent, 1-minor, 2-mild, 3-moderate, 4-severe). Results: 406 patients (71 ± 11 years, 56% male, FEV1 52 ± 23% predicted) were included; 278 (69%) patients had bronchiectasis: minor, 112 (40%); mild, 81 (29%); moderate, 62 (22%); severe 23 (8%). Bronchiectasis severity correlated with severity of BWT (p < 0.001) but not emphysema (p = 0.090). Bronchiectasis independently determined sputum isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Odds ratio (OR) 1.39 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.80), p = 0.013) and atypical mycobacteria (OR 2.44 (95% CI 1.04 to 5.69), p = 0.040), annual respiratory admissions (p = 0.044) and inpatient days (p < 0.001), but did not predict survival (p = 0.256). Conclusions: Radiographic bronchiectasis in COPD patients is associated with increased respiratory infection and hospitalisation, independent of coexisting emphysema and BWT. COPD-related bronchiectasis is therefore an important diagnosis with potential implications for treatment.