Characterizing non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: spirometry indices and disease burden by FACED score

This study aimed to characterize the clinical, radiological, and severity profile by spirometry indices and evaluate the clinical and structural disease burden stratified by FACED [FEV1% predicted (F), age (A), chronic colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (C), extension of the disease by radiological assessment (E), and dyspnea (D)] severity in patients with non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis. A retrospective review of 125 patients with non-CF bronchiectasis who underwent a pulmonary lung function test at the Aga Khan University Hospital (Karachi, Pakistan) was conducted. Spirometry patterns were normal, obstructive, restrictive, and mixed. FACED classifications were mild (0-2) and moderate-severe disease (≥3). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in 26.40%. Obstructive ventilatory disorder (54.40%) was the most frequent finding. Symptom duration of >10 years was relatively frequent in the obstructive group (34.69%; p=0.012). Moderate-to-severe disease (FACED≥3) was most prevalent in the obstructive pattern (60.29%; p=0.012). Patients with moderate-to-severe disease more frequently reported longer symptom duration compared with those with mild disease (p=0.015). Non-CF bronchiectasis patients with obstructive ventilatory disease may present with a longer duration of symptoms and disease severity. Patients with moderate-severe disease had longer symptom duration, with trends towards higher lung parenchymal injury (residual fibrosis on high-resolution computed tomography) and hospitalization due to respiratory infection.