Clinical and spirometric characteristics of patients with asthma and bronchiectasis: a comparative observational study

Abstract

Background
Bronchiectasis is a heterogeneous condition that may coexist with asthma and has been associated with variations in clinical and inflammatory characteristics.


Methods
This prospective observational cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at the Department of Chest Diseases, Beni-Suef University Hospital. A total of 69 adult patients with a history of asthma (aged 18–79 years) were enrolled. Participants were categorized into two groups: asthma without bronchiectasis and asthma comorbid with bronchiectasis (ACB). Furthermore, we separated ACB group patients into the bronchiectasis-prior group and the asthma-prior group Demographic and clinical data were collected. All patients underwent high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), spirometry, and sputum culture analysis.


Results
Among the 69 patients, bronchiectasis was identified in 37 (53.6%). Of these, 21 (56.8%) were in the asthma-prior group and 16 (43.2%) in the bronchiectasis-prior group. Patients with ACB demonstrated lower mean body mass index (BMI) and higher median total leukocytic count (TLC), band neutrophils, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels compared to those without bronchiectasis. A higher proportion of Klebsiella growth was also observed in this group. Spirometric parameters tended to be lower in patients with ACB, although most values remained within normal or near-normal ranges.Within the ACB group, patients with bronchiectasis-prior presentation showed longer disease duration, earlier age of onset, and a higher proportion of moderate to severe bronchiectasis.


Conclusion
The relationship between asthma and bronchiectasis onset was associated with differences in clinical and inflammatory features. These findings may help to better characterize patient subgroups; however, further studies are needed to determine their clinical and therapeutic implications.