Bronchiectasis in France: data on disease characteristics in 630 patients from the European Bronchiectasis registry (EMBARC)

Background

Little is known about the characteristics of adults with bronchiectasis in France.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the characteristics of adults (≥18 years) with clinically-significant bronchiectasis, diagnosed on a combination of respiratory symptoms and CT scan findings, and followed in 18 participating centers. Data on, etiology, lung function, symptoms, microbiology, treatments and quality of life were collected.

Results

Between January 2016 and July 2022, 630 adults (females: 66 %; ≥55 years: 73.8 %) were included. Idiopathic and post-infective causes represented 33.0 % and 37.1 % respectively; COPD and asthma, which were present in 15.6 % and 23.6 % of subjects, were considered as causes of bronchiectasis in only 3.8 % and 2.9 %, respectively. Only 25 % had normal spirometry and 7.3 % required long-term oxygen therapy. Daily sputum production was present in 78.1 % and 29.0 % had a modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score ≥2. Positive bacterial sputum culture was found in 77.8 % of those with sputum samples (n = 455); including 157 (34.5 %) positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa within the past year. During the year prior to study entry, 75.4 % of patients reported at least one respiratory exacerbation, 33.8 % had at least one hospitalization and 24.5 % received outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). Using the bronchiectasis severity index 26.0 %, 36.4 % and 37.6 % were considered as having mild, moderate and severe disease, respectively.

Conclusion

In France, adults with bronchiectasis experience significant disease burden. Respiratory exacerbations are responsible for healthcare utilization and their prevention may require specialized multidisciplinary care and the development of novel therapeutic interventions.