Data are lacking regarding the management of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE) in clinical practice. A recent study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2025 International Conference revealed some real-world treatment patterns and outcomes.
The researchers identified 12,018 patients with NCFBE. The mean age was 68.5 years, and 67% were female. The study assessed follow-up care after inpatient or outpatient treatment for NCFBE.
Patients received oral and inhaled corticosteroids, short-acting beta agonists, antibiotics, and nebulizers. The study documented how long patients stayed on those treatments; for example, 37.5% of patients prescribed long-acting bronchodilators and 9.4% of patients prescribed macrolides used them for six months or longer. The most frequent first antibiotic was a macrolide (25.7%), and patients used them for an average of seven months. Many patients switched antibiotics during follow-up.
Regarding outcomes, 22% of patients experienced respiratory failure, 19.6% heart failure, and 35.2% bronchiectasis exacerbations. In an analysis of healthcare utilization, the study found that 24.3% of patients had respiratory-related inpatient stays and 31.4% had respiratory-related ER visits. All-cause mortality during follow-up was 22.5%.
“Management of NCFBE is challenging due to the heterogeneity of the disease and the lack of approved treatments. The repeated use of antibiotics and increased reliance on bronchodilators in real-world clinical practice, along with the occurrence of exacerbations and other complications, suggest[s] patients’ medical needs are not fully addressed. There appears to be a pressing need for targeted therapies for NCFBE,” concluded the authors, led by Ruxana Sadikot, MD, oftheUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Reference
American Thoracic Society International Conference. Abstract #A1960. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/ajrccm.2025.211.Abstracts.A1960.
