COMPARISON OF LUNG FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIECTASIS DURING ACUTE EXACERBATION AND IN CONVALESCENCE - A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background- Bronchiectasis is a common chronic respiratory disease. A noticeable drop in lung function during exacerbations and recovery during convalescence has been revealed in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hence this study was planned with the objectives to compare lung functions during acute exacerbation and convalescence in patients with bronchiectasis. Methods- This was a prospective cohort study conducted in 50 patients over a duration of 18 months. Measurement of exacerbations and convalescence visits comprised of spirometry, sputum bacteriology, serum and sputum biomarker. Student's paired t test, Fischer's exact test or Chi square test was used to analyze the signicance of difference. P value <0.05 was considered as statistically signicant. Results- In this study, there was a signicant association of mMRC dyspnoea score in exacerbation and in convalescence. (p <0.0001). The analysis showed that mMRC dyspnoea score was shifted to lower scores in convalescence compared to that in exacerbation. FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC) and 6 MWT distance were signicantly lower in patients in exacerbation as compared in convalescence. Conclusion- There was marked improvement in lung functions in convalescence as compared to patients in acute exacerbation.