Extract
Bronchiectasis is a chronic and progressive disease, which frequently is associated with a significant symptom burden and which may require intensive treatment. To date, epidemiological data on the prevalence of bronchiectasis in Europe are exceedingly scarce due to a great lack of research [1]. However, these data on disease burden are important in order to inform authorities and to allocate resources in healthcare [2], in particular as bronchiectasis is associated with high healthcare system usage as well as significant morbidity and mortality [3, 4]. The aim of the present study was to estimate the overall prevalence of bronchiectasis in Germany over a 1-year period from a representative sample of routine statutory health insurance claim data, with special attention paid to the distribution of age and sex, and the site of healthcare provision, as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a concomitant condition.
Abstract
Robust evidence for the prevalence of bronchiectasis in Germany and its association with chronic airflow obstruction http://ow.ly/QvSBo
Acknowledgement
Data adjustment and analysis were performed by the Health Risk Institute in coordination with Elsevier Health Analytics (both Berlin, Germany).
Footnotes
Support statement: Data adjustment and analysis were kindly supported by Grifols Germany, Frankfurt, Germany.
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside the online version of this article at www.erj.ersjournals.com
- Received June 17, 2015.
- Accepted June 19, 2015.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015