Clinical characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis at the Ciudad de la Salud, Panama, January to December of 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: bronchiectasis is an abnormal and irreversible dilation of the bronchi that impairs mucus clearance, perpetuating
inflammation and increasing susceptibility to bronchial infections with progression of chronic lung damage.
Objective: to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis hospitalized at the Cardiothoracic Institute of the City of Health in Panama City from January to December 2023.
Methods: a descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional observational study was conducted with a sample of 35 electronic patient records from patients treated at the Cardiothoracic Institute of the City of Health in Panama City from January to December 2023.
Results: The mean age of patients with bronchiectasis was 63.4 years; the gender distribution was 23 women and 12 men. The most
common etiologies of bronchiectasis were of unknown cause (32 %), followed by post-infectious causes (22 %). 37 % had a history of
COVID-19 compared to 60 % without a history of COVID-19. The most relevant comorbidities were high blood pressure (21 %), diabetes mellitus (12 %), and pulmonary tuberculosis (9 %). Sputum smears and bronchoscopy samples failed to isolate a microorganism in up to 29 %. However, the most prevalent microorganisms isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25 %), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (8 %), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6 %). The most relevant signs and symptoms were cough with sputum production (41 %), dyspnea (22 %), and hemoptysis (17 %).
Discussion: The most frequent sign in patients with bronchiectasis was expectoration, and the most commonly isolated microorganism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa.