OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features of bronchiectasis.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 136 patients who had been admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2010 to December 2012 due to bronchiectasis, which was confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography.

RESULTSThe average age of these 136 patients (61 men and 75 women) was (57.7±16.3) years. The average clinical history was (17.2±15.8) years. The exact etiology was unidentified in 77.2% (105/136) of the patients. The most commonly identified cause was previous infections (14.7%, 20/136), particularly tuberculosis. The main symptoms of bronchiectasis were cough and sputum production. The types of bronchiectasis were cylindrical in 37.7% (37/98), varicose in 40.8% (40/98), cystic in 21.4% (21/98) of these patients. Multilober involvement was most common (77.2%, 105/136). The most commonly involved lobes were left lower lobe (76.5%, 104/136). Of 77 patients who had undergone pulmonary function test, 47 (61.0%) showed obstructive. For each bronchiectasis type, the values (percentages of predicted) of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (P=0.918), forced vital capacity (FVC) (P=0.982), and FEV1/FVC (P=0.211) showed no statistical significance. The most commonly identified pathogen in sputum culture was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was sensitive to most broad-spectrum antibiotics. Current infections were most common in patients with cystic bronchiectasis, among whom rales were frequently heard.

CONCLUSIONSMost bronchiectasis patients are old women. The main etiology is previous infection, especially tuberculosis. The main symptom of bronchiectasis is productive cough. Many patients can have obstructive pulmonary function. The distribution of lesions is diffuse, and the lesions are often seen in both lungs, particularly in the left lower lobe. Cystic bronchiectasis may be a more severe type, and should be carefully managed once identified by radiology.