The effect of inhaler treatments on respiratory functions and attack frequency in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of inhaler treatment on respiratory functions and exacerbations in bronchiectasis patients with the exception of cystic fibrosis. Material and Method: Between March 2019 – January 2022, 146 patients older than 18 years, diagnosed as bronchiectasis by HRCT and/or thorax CT, who were evaluated in Manisa Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital Chest Diseases Clinic, have been included in this study. Age, sex, body mass index, education, smoking history, comorbidities, known ethiological factors, sociodemographic data have been recorded of the patients who met the inclusion criteria. Exacerbation counts in the past year have been recorded. mMRC scores and mReiff scores of the patient CTs were determined; patients were classified as mild, intermediate and severe by their mReiff scores. Respiratory functions were recorded as FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC. Results: Of the 146 patients included in our study, 90 (61.6%) were female. Mean age was 56,14±16.22. Mean body mass index was 26,68 ± 5.21. 112 of the patients had no history of smoking. 78 patients (53.4%) had no recollection of their bronchiectasis history. 51 (34.9%) patients among the group whom the ethiological causes known had bronchiectasis due to post-infectious (other than pneumonia) causes. 88 (60.3%) of the patients had at least one comorbidity. The most common comorbidity was asthma. 66 (45.2%) of the patients had an mMRC score of 0. 91 (62.3%) of the patients had classified as mild bronchiectasis based on modified Reiff scoring. 26 (17.8%) of the patients had lower airway obstruction based their respiratory function tests. 93 (63.7%) patients were using inhaled corticosteroids and 32 (21.9%) were using inhaled anticolinergics. 18 (12.7%) of the patients had more than 2 exacerbations in past year. More than half (71.8%) of the patients who were using inhaled anticolinergics had an mMRC score of 0 or 1. Most patients showed no obstruction on their respiratory function test results and most patients had less exacerbations than 2 past year. Similar to the group which were taking inhaled anticolinergic treatment, most of the grup which was taking inhaled corticosteroids showed no obstruction and had exacerbations less than 2 past year. Discussion and Conclusion: In bronchiectasis patients excluding cystic fibrosis, inhaled anticolinergics and inhaled corticosteroids had no statistically significant effect on respiratory function tests and exacerbation count. This study which aims to show the effect of inhaler treantment on exacerbations and respiratory functions in cystic fibrosis excluded bronchiectasis patients will pave the way for similar future studies. Key words: Bronchiectasis, inhaler treatment, functional status