Table 1 Characteristics at study enrolment of all 32 patients with non-CF bronchiectasis and of the subset of 22 who experienced exacerbations during the study period

Age (years), mean (SD)

61 (12)

59 (12)

Female patients, n (%)

27 (84)

19 (86)

Duration of follow up (days), median (IQR)

491 (386,603)

506 (390,648)

Ever smokers, n (%)

10 (31)

6 (27)

Aetiology, n (%)

Post-infectious: 16 (50)

Post-infectious: 13 (59)

Idiopathic: 11 (34)

Idiopathic: 5 (23)

Rheumatological: 2 (6)

Rheumatological: 1 (4)

Other: 3 (9)

Other: 3 (14)

Bhalla score, mean (SD)

12 (9)

12 (9)

Number of lobes involved, median (IQR)

3.5 (2,5)

3.5 (2,5)

BSI score, median (IQR)

8.5 (4,12.8)

9 (4.5,11.3)

Severity (BSI classification), n (%)

Mild: 9 (28)

Mild: 6 (27)

Moderate: 8 (22)

Moderate: 4 (18)

Severe: 15 (50)

Severe: 12 (55)

Self-reported exacerbation frequency in previous year, median (IQR)

3 (2,5.8)

3 (2.3,6)

Asthma diagnosis, n (%)

7 (22)

6 (27)

Previous pseudomonas on sputum culture, n (%)

7 (22)

5 (23)

Previous hospitalisation, n (%)

9 (28)

8 (36)

Short-acting inhaled bronchodilator

13 (41)

10 (45)

Long-acting inhaled bronchodilator

12 (38)

8 (36)

Inhaled corticosteroid use

16 (50)

11 (50)

Long term macrolide therapy, n (%)

2 (6)

2 (9)

FEV₁(L), mean (SD)

1.96 (0.90)

2.02 (0.95)

FEV₁% predicted (SD)

78 (26)

76 (28)

FEV₁/FVC ratio, (SD)

0.71 (0.15)

0.71 (0.17)

Stable PEFR (L/min), (SD)

334 (104)

337 (110)

PEFR variability, % best (see text)

12.4 (8.2)

13.8 (9.4)

Symptoms

48.8 (24.3)

50.2 (26.1)

Activity

40.3 (27.8)

41.8 (27.7)

Impact

27.2 (16.5)

29.4 (14.9)

Total SGRQ score

34.8 (18.1)

37.6 (16.9)

CAT score

16.6 (7.0)

17.2 (7.1)