Factors influencing hospital stay for acute exacerbations of bronchiectasis

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on admission trends and outcomes of bronchiectasis in Tunisia. This study aims to evaluate the factors associated with long hospital stay in patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis (AEB). METHODS: We evaluated the number of re-hospitalizations, length of stay and number of comorbidities in 48 patients admitted with an AEB to the Charles Nicolle hospital enrolled in a retrospective study from 2010 to 2015. RESULTS: The 48 patients (29 men and 19 women) totalized 125 AEB, with a mean number of 3 exacerbations per patient (1 to 9 episodes). Duration of hospital stay (medians) was 17.43 ± 11.10 days. Duration of hospitalization was correlated with comorbidities (p=0.043), known bronchiectasis (p=0.028), extensive damage: upper than 3 involved lobes (0.049), positive sputum cytology (p CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidities, haemoglobin level, renal function, positive sputum cytology and extensive damage were predictors of prolonged hospitalization. Patients with frequent exacerbations had increased risk for readmission.