To determine the frequency of undiagnosed bronchiectasis in patients suffering from severe persistent asthma in Nishtar Hospital multan.

Abstract

Introduction: Though asthma and bronchiectasis are two different diseases, their coexistence has been shown in many patients. Bronchiectasis can contribute to severe and difficult to control asthma with pulmonary complications like chronic respiratory failure. Bronchiectasis often goes unrecognized, even when characteristic features are present and appropriate diagnostic techniques are readily available. Successful management of the patients suffering from severe persistent asthma depends on the early recognition of bronchiectasis or any other underlying disorder and their timely treatment.Objective:  To determine the frequency of undiagnosed bronchiectasis in patients suffering fromsevere persistent asthma.Material and Methods:  This was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted at Department of Pumonology, Nishtar Medical University, Multan - Pakistan. This was a six month study in which total of 147 patients with severe persistent asthma were included. All patients had undergone High resolution CT scan chest to detect undiagnosed bronchiectasis. Frequency of undiagnosed bronchiectasis was determined. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.Results:  The mean age of the patients was 43.82±12.43 years. There were 23.8% patients in the age range of 20–30 years, 21.8% patients of age range of 31–40 years, 16.3% patients of age range of 41–50 years and 38.1% patients of age range of 51–60 years. Bronchiectasis was found to be present in 53 patients (36.1%) out of 147 patients suffering fromsevere persistent asthma.Conclusions:  The frequency of undiagnosed bronchiectasis in patients suffering from severe persistent asthma is quiet high especially in older patients with longer disease duration.