FREQUENCY OF BRONCHIECTASIS IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Abstract

Background: The term "bronchiectasis" refers to an irregular widening of the bronchi, typically brought on by an infection or persistent airway inflammation. Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a significant incidence of bronchiectasis. By detecting problems earlier and responding quickly, complications can be avoided, and hospitalization rates and morbidity can be reduced.

Objective: To determine the frequency of bronchiectasis in patients diagnosed with COPD.

Methodology: The study was cross-sectional and descriptive, and it was carried out at the Department of Pulmonology GMMMC hospital Sukkur. The study duration was one years from January 2022 to January 2023. There were 200 individuals with COPD diagnosed were included in this study. Records were kept on the individual's gender, age, illiteracy, length of COPD, smoking, indoor air pollution, and body mass index, (BMI) among other prevalent risk factors for bronchiectasis. Every patient had tested to figure out whether bronchiectasis was present.

Results: With 60% of the patients being female and 40% being male, the mean age was recoded as 56 years. Of the study population, 43% had bronchiectasis. 31% of people smoked, whilst 69% did not smoke. While 55% of the participants had no comorbidities, 45% of patients had comorbidities (DM, HTN). Of the individuals, 41% were overweight and 37% had a normal BMI. In addition, 59% of the individuals were housewives while the literacy rate of the patients studied was 87%. For more than ten years, COPD affected about 38% of patients.

Conclusion: According to the results of our investigation, 41% of COPD patients had bronchiectasis. The presence of bronchiectasis is more influenced by the patient's age, gender, literacy rate and length of COPD; it is less influenced by the patient's employment, BMI, comorbidities, or smoking habit.