Pneumology - Original Articles Open access

Characterizing non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: spirometry indices and disease burden by FACED score

Authors

Published
7 May 2026
Issue
Early Access
Section
Pneumology - Original Articles
DOI
10.4081/monaldi.2026.3920

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the clinical, radiological, and severity profile by spirometry indices and evaluate the clinical and structural disease burden stratified by FACED [FEV1% predicted (F), age (A), chronic colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (C), extension of the disease by radiological assessment (E), and dyspnea (D)] severity in patients with non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis. A retrospective review of 125 patients with non-CF bronchiectasis who underwent a pulmonary lung function test at the Aga Khan University Hospital (Karachi, Pakistan) was conducted. Spirometry patterns were normal, obstructive, restrictive, and mixed. FACED classifications were mild (0-2) and moderate-severe disease (≥3). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in 26.40%. Obstructive ventilatory disorder (54.40%) was the most frequent finding. Symptom duration of >10 years was relatively frequent in the obstructive group (34.69%; p=0.012). Moderate-to-severe disease (FACED≥3) was most prevalent in the obstructive pattern (60.29%; p=0.012). Patients with moderate-to-severe disease more frequently reported longer symptom duration compared with those with mild disease (p=0.015). Non-CF bronchiectasis patients with obstructive ventilatory disease may present with a longer duration of symptoms and disease severity. Patients with moderate-severe disease had longer symptom duration, with trends towards higher lung parenchymal injury (residual fibrosis on high-resolution computed tomography) and hospitalization due to respiratory infection.

Keywords

Ethics Approval

Given the retrospective nature of the study, a waiver of ethics approval and informed consent was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee (ERC) of the Aga Khan University (ERC #2022-7529-21827). The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards outlined in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its future amendments.

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