Abstract
Introduction: Bronchiectasis can be associated with obstructive, restrictive or normal spirometry. Reduced FEV1 is associated more severe disease, but no studies exist comparing these 3 patterns of lung function.
Methods: Data from 89 consecutive patients with HRCT confirmed bronchiectasis was collected and patients classified as having obstructive spirometry (FEV1 <80% pred, FEV1/FVC ratio <70%), restrictive spirometry (FEV1 <80% pred, FEV1/FVC >70% pred) or normal spirometry.
Results: Patients with obstructive spirometry had more bacterial colonisation, particularly with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Table 1). There was a trend suggesting more severe bronchiectasis using the modified Reiff score (HRCT disease severity) in patients with obstruction and restriction. Patients with restrictive spirometry had a similar severity of bronchiectasis and hospitalisation rate to patients with airflow obstruction.
Table 1
17% of patients with normal spirometry were hospitalised over 2 years, compared to 27.3% of patients with restrictive and 32.6% of patients with obstructive spirometry.
Conclusion: Bronchiectasis can be associated with normal, restrictive or obstructive spirometry. Obstructive and restrictive spirometry are associated more severe disease and a higher frequency of hospital admissions.
- © 2013 ERS
