Correlation between chest CT features and clinical and biological data in patients with bronchiectasis

Abstract

<bold>Background:</bold> Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease associated with recurrent infections, progressive decline, and significant morbidity. Identifying correlations between radiological patterns and clinical outcomes may improve risk stratification and management. <bold>Aim:</bold> This study aims to assess the clinical, radiological, and prognostic features of patients with bronchiectasis and examine the association between radiological subtypes and clinical outcomes. <bold>Methods:</bold> A retrospective study was conducted from 2018 to 2024, including patients with bronchiectasis followed in the pulmonology department of the Internal Security Forces Hospital in Tunisia. <bold>Results:</bold> Sixty patients were included, with a mean age of 62±14 years [25–87] and a male-to-female ratio of 1.8. The predominant bronchiectasis subtypes were cylindrical in 43 patients (72%), cystic in 12 (20%), and varicose in 9 (15%), with bilateral involvement in 25 patients (42%). Cylindrical bronchiectasis was significantly associated with active smoking (p = 0.025). Varicose bronchiectasis correlated with bronchorrhoea (p = 0.018), severe exertional dyspnoea (mMRC 4) (p = 0.02), elevated CRP levels (p = 0.014), increased exacerbations requiring hospitalisation (p = 0.008), and more frequent need for non-invasive ventilation (p = 0.01). Cystic bronchiectasis was associated with haemoptysis (p = 0.03). Bilateral bronchiectasis correlated with bronchorrhoea (p = 0.023) and elevated CRP levels (p = 0.028). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Varicose and bilateral bronchiectasis indicate greater severity, highlighting their prognostic and their role in guiding personalised management strategies.