Indicators of the severity of bronchial dilatation

Bronchial dilatation remains an under-diagnosed chronic respiratory pathology. The aim of our study is to analyze the mortality risk factors associated with diffuse DDB and to compare the BSI and FACED scores. This is a comparative study of 110 cases of diffuse DDB, collected at the Sfax Pneumology Department covering a period of 10 years. The mean age was 60 years. The clinical picture was dominated by exertional dyspnea. Chest CT showed a predominance of cylindrical forms (75%). The etiologies of DDB were mainly infectious. In the majority of cases, it was idiopathic (65%). Mortality in our population was 20.6%. Independent risk factors for mortality were medium-to-high socioeconomic status, number of comorbidities, certain antecedents (hypertension, asthma, GERD), superinfection by Branhamella Catarrhalis, non-use of Bromhexine, hospitalizations in the preceding 2 years. The BSI score is the best predictor of mortality, hospitalizations and FEV1 decline in our population. On the other hand, no score predicts exacerbations.

Autorentext
Dr Walid FEKI. I trained as a pneumologist. I was born in Sfax in southern Tunisia. I worked as a resident and then a university hospital assistant between 2012 and 2018. I am currently Associate Professor of Pneumology at the Pneumology Department of CHU Hédi Chaker in Sfax.