Exercise capacity is related with FACED score for disease severity in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

Abstract

Purpose: The FACED score is a newly developed tool to define severity of bronchiectasis related with its prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between FACED score and exercise capacity as well as health impairment in patients with non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis.

Methods: Forty patients aged 18-70 years (26 females, 14 males) with non-CF bronchiectasis participated in the study. Demographics, physical characteristics and pulmonary function measurements of the subjects were recorded. The Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (MMRC), age, percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁>1%), pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, and number of affected lobes were recorded to calculate the FACED score. Health impairment was determined using St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Exercise capacity was evaluated using the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT). Heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO₂>2), dyspnea and fatigue using modified Borg Scale were measured before and after the ISWT.

Results: According the FACED score, 24 patients had mild, 12 patients had moderate, and four patients had severe bronchiectasis. The FACED score was significantly related with ISWT distance (r=-0.467), post-ISWT SpO₂(r=-0.598), resting SpO₂ (r=-0.345), SGRQ activity (r=0.365), and SGRQ total (r=0.348) scores (p<0.005).

Conclusions: Severity of bronchiectasis related with prognosis is associated with maximal exercise capacity, daily activity ability, and efficiency in non-CF bronchiectasis. Whether focusing on more activity-based rehabilitation may be more beneficial on prognosis warrants further investigation.