Asthma as a co-morbidity and cause of bronchiectasis: data from the European Bronchiectasis Registry (EMBARC)

Introduction: asthma is frequently reported in patients with bronchiectasis but its clinical significance is unclear. Methods: The European Bronchiectasis Registry (EMBARC) was studied from Jan 2015 to June 2019. Severity of disease was evaluated using the Bronchiectasis severity index (BSI) and FACED. Quality of life using the QOL-B questionnaire. Asthma was reported by the investigator. Results: Of 13512 patients included in the analysis, asthma was reported in 4119 (30.5%) making it the most common co-morbidity in bronchiectasis. Despite similar age (mean 63 vs 65 years,p=0.3) and similar P. aeruginosa infection rates (21% vs 20%,p=0.005), patients with comorbid asthma had milder severity (BSI 7.6 vs 7.8,p Conclusions: Co-existing asthma in bronchiectasis is associated with increased exacerbations, respiratory symptom and, surprisingly, lower risk of NTM but reasons are unclear.