Impact of inhaler treatments on respiratory functions and exacerbation frequency in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Abstract

Background: Bronchiectasis is a chronic airway disease caused by abnormal and permanent dilation of the airways. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inhaler therapy use on respiratory functions and clinical outcomes in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Methods: One hundred forty-six patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis aged over 18 years, diagnosed using high-resolution computed tomography, were included in the study. Age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, additional diseases, known etiologic factors, and vaccination status of the patients included in the retrospectively designed study were recorded as sociodemographic data. Respiratory functions, disease severity, and clinical outcomes of patients with bronchiectasis who did and did not receive inhaled anticholinergic and steroid treatments were compared.

Results: Ninety (61.6 %) of the 146 patients included in the study were women. The mean age was 56.14 ± 16.22 years. The etiology of bronchiectasis was unknown in 78 (53.4 %) patients. The most prevalent comorbidity was asthma. According to modified Reiff scoring, 91 (62.3 %) patients were classified as having mild bronchiectasis. Twenty-six (17.8 %) patients had airway obstruction. There were 93 (63.7 %) patients using inhaled corticosteroids and 32 (21.9 %) using inhaled anticholinergics.

Conclusions: It was determined that patients using inhaler anticholinergics or inhaled steroids were in the more severe group. However, inhaler anticholinergic and inhaler steroid treatments had no effect on hospital admissions and exacerbation frequency in patients with bronchiectasis. Hospitalizations were more frequent among patients with bronchiectasis using inhaled steroids.