Assessment of quality of life in patients with bronchiectasis

<b>Introduction:</b> Bronchiectasis is a debilitating chronic lung disease&nbsp;with&nbsp;serious morbi-mortality. Recurrence of exacerbations is an important issue that considerably affects patients quality of life (QOL). We aimed to evaluate QOL and its determinant in bonchiectasis patients. <b>Materials and methods:</b> This was a prospective study including 50 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis by computed tomography scan. All patients have not any other comorbidities. QOL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 (SF-36), in stable patients. Eligible patients were divided into groups according to Lean cutoff value, equal to 66.7 <b>Results:</b> The mean age was 55 years old with a slight male predominance(54%). The chief complaints were dyspnea and sputum production. Mean BMI was25±3.9Kg/m2.Bronchectieasis was diffuse in 29patients with&nbsp;cylindrical and cystic forms predominance. Most common complication was bronchial infections(82%). Five patients were in chronic respiratory failure stage and 3 had chronic corpulmonale. Long term oxygen was indicated in10% of cases and NIV in 4%. The meanQOLscore was 64,4, withSF-36 physical component summary(PCS)score:65±20.8 and mental component summary(MCS)score:62±19.5. Poor QOL was found in 44% of the study population. The determinants of HRQOL in univariate study were: BMI(p=0.001)and number of hospitalizations(p=0.02). Neither BSI nor FACED scales were associated with QOL in bronchiectasis patients. Factors independently associated with QOL were BMI(p=0.08)and theophylline intake(p=0.04). <b>Conclusion:</b> SF-36 reflects an impaired QOL in bronchiectasis’s patients. SO, astratified approach to treatment is recommended in order to improve it.