Clinical, radiological and bacteriological profile of patients with Bronchiectasis and asthma coexistence.

<b>Background:</b> Asthma often coexists with bronchiectasis (BE) and contributes to the disease severity. The aim of this study is to record clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with both diseases. <b>Methods:</b> Patients with BE and asthma were studied prospectively. Etiology of BE was investigated, symptoms, exacerbations/year, hospital admissions, spirometry, microbiology, BSI, eosinophils in blood were recorded. HRCT was used to confirm the diagnosis and grade of BE lesions. <b>Results:</b> 66 patients with the diagnosis of both BE and asthma were studied, 49 women, mean age 60,7 (±11,9), mean BMI 27,9 (±4,7). Asthma was the main etiology of BE (62%). The most common symptoms were cough (77%), sputum (71%) and wheezing (19.7%). Additional data are shown in the following table. BSI was correlated to the number of exacerbations (p=0.017) and the number of hospital admissions (p=0.000). <b>Conclusions:</b> Bronchiectasis and asthma coexistence is common, with asthma being the main cause of BE in this population. In a quarter of the patients chronic bronchial infection is present, mainly of Ps. Aeruginosa. The severity of the disease is related to the exacerbations and hospitalizations. Patients need treatment for both diseases.