Non CF-bronchiectasis: Aetiologic, clinical, radiological, microbiological and functional profile in a Greek population

Background: Non-Cystic Fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis is common in Greece but little attention has been paid to its investigation. Aims and objectives: To identify the underlying causes, clinical, radiological, microbiological and lung function profile of patients with bronchiectasis in a large cohort of adult patients. Methods: We prospectively evaluated patients with non-CF bronchiectasis confirmed by HRCT of the chest. Aetiology, clinical data, radiology score, microbiological profile and lung function were investigated. Results: We evaluated 277 patients (170 women) with bronchiectasis. Mean age was 60.5±16 years. Post-infectious (25.2%) and past tuberculosis (TB) (22.3%) were the most common underlying causes, while no cause was found in 34% of the patients. The main symptoms were cough (82%), mucopurulent sputum (80%), dyspnea (60%) and haemoptysis (37%). Mean duration of symptoms was 9.7 years. Infectious exacerbations were observed in 67.5% of the patients with a mean frequency of 2.3 per year. The most frequent lung function pattern was obstruction (43.1%). P.aeruginosa was the most common pathogen yielded in sputum cultures (43%) followed by H.influenzae (12.6%). Patients with P.aeruginosa had a more long-standing disease and worse lung function.Radiological severity was related to worse lung function, P.aeruginosa colonization in sputum and frequent exacerbations. Conclusion: In Greece,”past” tuberculosis remains an important cause of bronchiectasis. P.aeruginosa is the predominant pathogen colonizing the airways contributing to the severity of the disease, while the most common lung function pattern is obstruction.