Prevelance of Undiagnosed Bronchiectasis in Patients Suffering from Severe Persistent Asthma

Introduction: Asthma is a clinical condition associated with recurring airway obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation. Asthma and bronchiectasis are separate illnesses. However, both disorders occur in some patients e.g., ABPA. Rare data exist for determining the impact of asthma aggravation by bronchiectasis. Present study aims to find such association. Objective: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed bronchiectasis in patients suffering from severe persistent asthma. Study Design: Cross sectional/descriptive study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pulmonology, Al-Aleem Medical College/Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital Lahore from 1st July 2020 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: One hundred and twenty five patients of severe persistent asthma were enrolled. Patients were aged between 20-75 years. Patients details demographics age, sex and body mass index were recorded after taking written consent. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest was done among complete patients to recognized undiagnosed bronchiectasis. Prevalence of undiagnosed bronchiectasis was assessed among cases. Results: Sixty five (54.17%) were females and the rest were males 55 (45.83%). Mean age of the patients were 40.26 +/- 9.55 years with mean BMI 25.16 +/- 8.66 kg/m(2). 35 (28%) patients had smoking history. Majority of the patients 55 (44%) were aged between 45-75 years of age. Prevalence of undiagnosed bronchiectasis was found in 48 (38.4%) patients of severe persistent asthma. Conclusion: The prevalence of undiagnosed bronchiectasis was significantly high among patients of long disease duration suffering from persistent asthma.