• Do bronchiectasis worsens COPD – a cross-sectional pilot study

<bold>Background:</bold> Association between Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis has been studied extensively in the West but very few studies on Indian population especially from the Eastern part of the country. <bold>Objectives:</bold> To determine the prevalence of bronchiectasis in stable COPD patients and comparative severity of obstruction and exercise capacity in patients with or without bronchiectasis. <bold>Methods:</bold> This is a cross-sectional observational study carried out in Burdwan Medical College in West Bengal, India. Clinically stable COPD patients were recruited. Patients unable to do spirometry, suspected or confirmed tuberculosis & congenital bronchiectasis were excluded. <bold>Results:</bold> 110 stable COPD patients were included. 73.6% patients were in 50 to 70 years age group. 84.5% were male. 31.8% patients were underweight. 60% patients were in normal range and 8.2% patients were overweight. 56% patients had emphysema. 7.3%, 33.6%, 40.9% & 18.2% patients had GOLD grade I, II, III & IV airflow limitation. 21.8% patients with stable COPD showed bronchiectasis on HRCT. Among them 62.5% were cylindrical, 20.83% were cystic & 16.67% were varicose. Post bronchodilator FEV1% of predicted in Patients with or without bronchiectasis were 30.21±7.59 and 53.09±17.39; bronchiectasis patients had significantly lower baseline FEV1% of predicted (95% C.I 15.64 to 30.12, p<0.0001). 6 MWD in patients with or without bronchiectasis were 280.42±10.4 M & 383.95±46.45 M respectively. This variability was also statistically significant (95% C.I 84.56 to 122.51, p<0.0001). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Stable COPD patients with worsened lung function and exercise capacity should be screened for presence of bronchiectasis.