The impact of bronchiectasis in clinical presentation of asthma.
BACKGROUND
Though asthma and bronchiectasis are two different diseases, their coexistence has been shown in many patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of asthmatics with bronchiectasis compared with pure asthmatics.


METHODS
We evaluated 1680 asthmatics followed-up in our clinic. Fifty-one asthmatics had the diagnosis of bronchiectasis. These patients were compared with fifty-one age and gender matched asthmatics without bronchiectasis.


RESULTS
The prevalence of bronchiectasis among the asthmatics was 3%. Asthma diagnosis was made at the age of 33.2 +/- 16.8 years for asthmatics with bronchiectasis and 39.5 +/- 16.2 years for pure asthmatics (P = 0.05). Asthmatics with bronchiectasis mostly had severe persistent asthma (49.0%), while pure asthmatics mostly had mild persistent and intermittent asthma (69.4%). History of hospitalization due to severe asthma exacerbation and presence of chronic respiratory failure was significantly higher in bronchiectatic group.


CONCLUSIONS
These data show that bronchiectasis can contribute to severe and difficult to control asthma with pulmonary complications like chronic respiratory failure.
Oguzulgen
I Kivilcim
IK
Gazi University School of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. ipek@gazi.edu.tr
Kervan
Firdevs
F
Ozis
Turkan
T
Turktas
Haluk
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology