Assessment of Frequency Distribution and Risk Factors of Bronchiectasis in Patients Referred to Alzahra Hospital Affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, during the Years 2017 and 2018

Background: Considering the significant impact of bronchiectasis on the quality of life, and lack of adequate study on the etiology of this disease, this study aimed to determine the frequency distribution and risk factors for bronchiectasis in patients referred to Alzahra hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, during the years 2017 and 2018. Methods: In a descriptive-analytic study, 63 patients with bronchiectasis who had been admitted to Alzahra hospital during 2017-2018 were studied. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, clinical manifestations, and complaints, as well as risk factors were determined. Findings: 34 patients (54%) were men and 29 (46%) were women. The mean age of the patients was 36.08 ± 15.3 years (range: 12-87 years). The most common primary complaint was cough associated with sputum with an incidence of 19 patients (30.2%). The history of severe respiratory infection was the most common reported risk factor for bronchiectasis in studied patients. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that bronchiectasis is more common in the active age group of 20-39 years, and the prevalence of certain potential risk factors, including the history of severe respiratory infection, is higher in this group. Therefore, considering that the etiology of bronchiectasis is idiopathic in a significant percentage of patients, more studies are needed to determine the risk factors for the disease.