• Evangelos Balis, Eugenios Metaxas, Joseph Papaparaskevas, Despina Chrysovergi, Nikos Spanakis, and Georgios Tatsis.
• Chest. 2014 Mar 1;145(3 Suppl):418A.

Session TitleBronchiectasis PostersSESSION TYPE: Poster PresentationsPRESENTED ON: Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:15 PM - 02:15 PMPURPOSE: Low spirometry values are associated with increased risk for an exacerbation in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. There is paucity of data regarding patients with non-CF bronchiectasis. We endeavored to examine the possible relation between non-CF bronchiectasis exacerbations and pulmonary function tests.MethodsA cohort study with patients suffering from non-CF bronchiectasis was designed and performed. Patients were followed up for 12 months during both baseline and exacerbation periods. They were submitted to pulmonary function tests, namely flow volume curve and diffusion capacity. Forced expiratory volume during first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were recorded among others. Patients also were given a personal calendar to record their bronchiectasis related symptoms and a peak flow meter to measure and record their peak expiratory flow (PEF) daily.ResultsUsing non-parametric tests we examined differences in spirometry values between the subgroups of the cohort. Patients who had an exacerbation had lower baseline PEF, FEV1 and FVC measurements compared with patients who did not have an exacerbation. Comparing baseline and exacerbation periods, between the same patients, there was statistical difference in PEF but not in spirometry values.ConclusionsSpirometry and peak expiratory flow could be used as simple and inexpensive tools in order to identify bronchiectasis patients who are at risk for an exacerbation and thus benefit from interventions such as long term macrolide regimens.Clinical ImplicationsPatients with non-CF bronchiectasis that have decreased pulmonary function have increased risk for an exacerbationDisclosureThe following authors have nothing to disclose: Evangelos Balis, Eugenios Metaxas, Joseph Papaparaskevas, Despina Chrysovergi, Nikos Spanakis, Athanasios Tsakris, Georgios TatsisNo Product/Research Disclosure Information.

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