Abstract

Background: To determine the co-existence of bronchial asthma in patients of bronchiectasis, and to compare the clinical profile between patients having only bronchiectasis and both bronchiectasis and bronchial asthma.
Materials and Methods: 67 patients who presented as Bronchiectasis (Clinical) were subjected to baseline investigations and spirometry/PEFR after informed consent. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22 version software.The clinical profile was compared between the group having only bronchiectasis and those with bronchiectasis and asthma.
Results: Out of the 67 study patients, 55(82.08%) had only bronchiectasis and 12(17.91%) had bronchiectasis with bronchial asthma. In the bronchiectasis only group, majority of the patients were male 40(72.72%) and in the in bronchiectasis with bronchial asthma group majority of the patients were female 7(58.33%) which was statistically significant (P value 0.05). The mean age for onset of symptoms was found to be lower in the bronchiectasis with bronchial asthma group. Patients in the bronchiectasis with bronchial asthma group had a lower mean FEV1 value.
Conclusions: 17.91% of bronchiectasis patients had coexisting bronchial asthma. Hence, a proper diagnosis can reduce the burden of patients suffering from more frequent exacerbations, with better optimized treatment options