Skip to main content

Bronchiectasis: an emerging global epidemic

Abstract

Bronchiectasis has an increasing profile within respiratory medicine. This chronic and irreversible airways disease is common but suffers from a lack of evidenced based therapy for patients and, a lack of understanding of its inherent heterogeneity. Research focused on bronchiectasis must therefore be prioritized if we are to adequately address this evolving clinical problem. This special issue on bronchiectasis focuses on its clinical, microbiological and therapeutic aspects. By bringing together a unique collection of original research and review articles, we hope this issue will showcase international research efforts, encourage future research collaborations and stimulate debate. In doing so, we hope to bring greater attention to the urgent need for sustained investment into focused, dedicated and collaborative research platforms in bronchiectasis, an emerging “global epidemic”.

Editorial

Bronchiectasis is experiencing a clinical and research renaissance. This emerging epidemic of chronic and progressive immune-infective-inflammatory airway destruction results in a vicious cycle of repeated exacerbations and irreversible damage that now clearly necessitates greater global focus and investment. The recent publication of the first international guidelines for its management is welcome, particularly as its prevalence and recognition continues to rise [1,2,3]. Over the forthcoming years, international health systems are likely to face great challenges in managing this group of patients and their associated costs. Therefore, it appears logical that more research, increased therapeutic trials and improved specialist services should be prioritised. Importantly, the clear need for greater bronchiectasis-focused research is further evidenced by the fact that no single licensed therapy can yet be recommended for patients. This is despite the large numbers of trialled agents necessitating re-consideration of our approach, research strategy, clinical focus and understanding of the disease’s inherent heterogeneity [4]. Significant knowledge gaps persist in key areas of disease including aetiology, pathogenesis and microbial infection. The rising profile of bronchiectasis is welcome. If we are to effect the true impact of this, we must continue to develop and curate large datasets across international populations to inform our clinical practice and importantly our research [5,6,7].

As academic respiratory research enters unchartered territory; one plagued by the challenge of overlap syndromes, the application of new “omics” technologies, improved tools to understand disease endo-phenotypes and a complex arena of bioinformatics, the relevance of these developing areas to bronchiectasis focused research must be considered [3, 8,9,10]. The quality and quantity of research in the field should increase in parallel to ensure a secure future for our patients and the care they receive. Airway infection remains a major challenge in bronchiectasis and emerging culture-independent sequencing technologies provide further insight into its complexity [5,6,7]. A deeper understanding of the functional implications of airway microbes in a lung affected by bronchiectasis is necessary and this goes beyond bacteria to include non-tuberculous mycobacterial species, viruses and even fungi [11,12,13,14].

To add to the growing focus and interest in bronchiectasis, we dedicate this special issue to further promote its resurgence. This issue includes six original and three commissioned review articles organized into three thematic areas of importance: (1) clinical disease (2) airway infection and (3) lung transplantation.

Clinical disease

In this special issue, the clinical aspects of bronchiectasis are covered from both the physician and patient perspective. The authoritative review by Schäfer and colleagues reviews bronchiectasis pathogenesis, its imaging and clinical characteristics from both a cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF perspective across a diverse range of aetiologies [15]. In a patient focused article, Hester et al. address the issue of adherence to the multi-modal treatment options used in the care of bronchiectasis patients by reviewing the provision of and requirement for patient education [16]. Minimal work to date has been performed in bronchiectasis focused in this area especially when compared to other chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The information deficits uncovered in this qualitative approach clearly represent one of the key barriers to the implementation of bronchiectasis self-management. Further original qualitative work is provided by Dudgeon et al. whose study focused on the patient’s perspective of health-related quality of life (QOL) [17]. Semi-structured interviews elucidated that bronchiectasis-related symptoms are highly individual and variable, a feature that current available treatment and QOL tools do not adequately capture.

Airway infection

Infection is an established driver of exacerbations and disease progression in bronchiectasis, however, while acknowledged, geographic variation in disease has not been previously reviewed. Chandrasekaran et al. performed a comprehensive review of this understudied area of disease heterogeneity that has emerged in recent times, further evidenced by the contrasting results from the RESPIRE 1 and 2 trials performed across geographically distinct regions [18,19,20,21]. Three original articles focused on non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), viruses and paediatric microbiomes are further important additions to this special issue. Lim and colleagues illustrate that NTM profiles in an Asian setting (Singapore) are unique with M. abscessus commonest and associated with high rates of pulmonary tuberculosis, itself a major contributor to the bronchiectasis burden in Asia [22]. Mitchell et al. examined viruses in stable and exacerbating bronchiectasis in a pilot study [23]. The strength of this work is a weakness of prior studies in this area: an assessment of viral prevalence in the stable clinical state. The authors detect viruses at high frequency from respiratory secretions and exhaled breath, even in the stable state and with the absence of clinical symptoms, questioning their ‘true’ relevance in bronchiectasis. Longitudinal studies are clearly required including those focused on the host ‘virome’ to provide greater clarity to these findings. In contrast to the ‘virome’ , the microbiome in bronchiectasis has been better studied and Masekela et al. further add to this by assessing the lung microbiome in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related bronchiectasis, a field where minimal data currently exists [24]. This study showed a less diverse and largely heterogeneous microbiome dominated by Proteobacteria when compared to a small control group with CF illustrating the contrasting pathologies leading to bronchiectasis in the context of susceptibility to infection.

Lung transplantation

Lung transplantation is a viable therapeutic option in bronchiectasis and only a few publications have reported on this management strategy for end-stage disease. This issue includes two original articles, one assessing transplant outcomes and the other international practice. Birch et al. report the outcomes of lung transplantation over a period of more than two decades from a major European transplant referral centre [25]. The data show that lung transplantation for bronchiectasis is useful, associated with good lung function and importantly survival, which is comparable to other bilateral lung transplant recipients suffering from other causes of end-stage respiratory failure. Tissot and colleagues focused on the difficult issue of NTM infection in CF patients suitable for transplant listing and ascertaining current international practice [26]. NTM infection is complex, therapeutically challenging and associated with poorer disease outcome in CF however the suitability of such patients for lung transplantation is poorly characterized. Data in this issue illustrate that across international transplant centres a lack of standards exists, leading to variable practices. Therefore, an urgent need for better quality data to aid clinical decision making exists to inform equitable access to lung transplant for NTM-infected CF patients.

The once silent bronchiectasis epidemic continues to gain momentum. Its recent global resurgence necessitates dedicated research and sustained investment if we are to improve the clinical care delivered and our understanding of its pathogenesis. This special issue dedicated to bronchiectasis aims to reaffirm its growing profile through the varied collection of articles focusing on its clinical, microbiological and therapeutic aspects. The time has come to control the evolving bronchiectasis epidemic, and to do so requires a collective manifesto of using evidenced based research to deliver safe and effective therapy to suffering patients with this life-threatening disease.

Abbreviations

CF:

Cystic fibrosis

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

NTM:

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria

QOL:

Quality of life

References

  1. Polverino E, Goeminne PC, McDonnell MJ, Aliberti S, Marshall SE, Loebinger MR, Murris M, Cantón R, Torres A, Dimakou K, De Soyza A, Hill AT, Haworth CS, Vendrell M, Ringshausen FC, Subotic D, Wilson R, Vilaró J, Stallberg B, Welte T, Rohde G, Blasi F, Elborn S, Almagro M, Timothy A, Ruddy T, Tonia T, Rigau D, Chalmers JD. European Respiratory Society guidelines for the management of adult bronchiectasis. Eur Respir J. 2017;50(3). https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00629-2017.

  2. Quint JK, Millett ER, Joshi M, Navaratnam V, Thomas SL, Hurst JR, Smeeth L, Brown JS. Changes in the incidence, prevalence and mortality of bronchiectasis in the UK from 2004 to 2013: a population-based cohort study. Eur Respir J. 2016;47(1):186–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hurst JR, Elborn JS, De Soyza A. COPD-bronchiectasis overlap syndrome. Eur Respir J. 2015;45(2):310–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Chalmers JD, Chotirmall SH. Bronchiectasis: new therapies and new perspectives. Lancet Respir Med. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(18)30053-5.

  5. Chalmers JD, Aliberti S, Polverino E, Vendrell M, Crichton M, Loebinger M, Dimakou K, Clifton I, van der Eerden M, Rohde G, Murris-Espin M, Masefield S, Gerada E, Shteinberg M, Ringshausen F, Haworth C, Boersma W, Rademacher J, Hill AT, Aksamit T, O'Donnell A, Morgan L, Milenkovic B, Tramma L, Neves J, Menendez R, Paggiaro P, Botnaru V, Skrgat S, Wilson R, Goeminne P, De Soyza A, Welte T, Torres A, Elborn JS, Blasi F. The EMBARC European Bronchiectasis Registry: protocol for an international observational study. ERJ Open Res. 2016;2(1).

  6. Chalmers JD, Crichton M, Goeminne PC, Loebinger MR, Haworth C, Almagro M, Vendrell M, De Soyza A, Dhar R, Morgan L, et al. The European multicentre bronchiectasis audit and research collaboration (EMBARC): experiences from a successful ERS clinical research collaboration. Breathe (Sheffield, England). 2017;13(3):180–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Aksamit TR, O'Donnell AE, Barker A, Olivier KN, Winthrop KL, Daniels MLA, Johnson M, Eden E, Griffith D, Knowles M, et al. Adult patients with bronchiectasis: a first look at the US bronchiectasis research registry. Chest. 2017;151(5):982–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hester KLM, Newton J, Rapley T, Ryan V, De Soyza A. Information and education provision in bronchiectasis: co-development and evaluation of a novelpatient-driven resource in a digital era. Eur Respir J. 2018;51(4). https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02402-2017.

  9. De Soyza A, McDonnell MJ, Goeminne PC, Aliberti S, Lonni S, Davison J, Dupont LJ, Fardon TC, Rutherford RM, Hill AT, et al. Bronchiectasis rheumatoid overlap syndrome is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with bronchiectasis: a multicenter cohort study. Chest. 2017;151(6):1247–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Poh TY, Mac Aogain M, Chan AK, Yii AC, Yong VF, Tiew PY, Koh MS, Chotirmall SH. Understanding COPD-overlap syndromes. Expert review of respiratory medicine. 2017;11(4):285–98.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Chalmers JD, Moffitt KL, Suarez-Cuartin G, Sibila O, Finch S, Furrie E, Dicker A, Wrobel K, Elborn JS, Walker B, et al. Neutrophil elastase activity is associated with exacerbations and lung function decline in bronchiectasis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017;195(10):1384–93.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kapur N, Mackay IM, Sloots TP, Masters IB, Chang AB. Respiratory viruses in exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children. Arch Dis Child. 2014;99(8):749–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Chotirmall SH, Gellatly SL, Budden KF, Mac Aogain M, Shukla SD, Wood DL, Hugenholtz P, Pethe K, Hansbro PM. Microbiomes in respiratory health and disease: an Asia-Pacific perspective. Respirology (Carlton, Vic). 2017;22(2):240–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Chotirmall SH, Martin-Gomez MT. Aspergillus Species in Bronchiectasis: Challenges in the Cystic Fibrosis and Non-cystic Fibrosis Airways. Mycopathologia. 2018;183(1):45–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-017-0143-7.

  15. Schäfer J, Griese M, Chandrasekaran R, Chotirmall SH, Hartl D. Pathogenesis, imaging and clinical characteristics of CF and non-CF bronchiectasis. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018; In Press.

  16. Hester KLM, Newton J, Rapley T, De Soyza A. Patient information, education and self-management in bronchiectasis: facilitating improvements to optimise health outcomes. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018; In Press

  17. Dudgeon EK, Crichton M, Chalmers JD: “The missing ingredient”: the patient perspective of health related quality of life in bronchiectasis: a qualitative study BMC pulmonary medicine 2018, In Press.

    Google Scholar 

  18. De Soyza A, Aksamit T, Bandel TJ, Criollo M, Elborn JS, Operschall E, Polverino E, Roth K, Winthrop KL, Wilson R. RESPIRE 1: a phase III placebo-controlled randomised trial of ciprofloxacin dry powder for inhalation in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Eur Respir J. 2018;51(1). https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02052-2017.

  19. Aksamit T, De Soyza A, Bandel TJ, Criollo M, Elborn JS, Operschall E, Polverino E, Roth K, Winthrop KL, Wilson R. RESPIRE 2: a phase III placebo-controlled randomised trial of ciprofloxacin dry powder for inhalation in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Eur Respir J. 2018;51(1). https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02053-2017.

  20. Chotirmall SH, Chalmers JD. RESPIRE: breathing new life into bronchiectasis. Eur Respir J. 2018;51(1). https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02444-2017.

  21. Chandrasekaran R, Mac Aogáin M, Chalmers JD, Elborn JS, Chotirmall SH. Geographic variation in the aetiology, epidemiology and microbiology of bronchiectasis. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018; In Press.

  22. Lim AYH, Chotirmall SH, Fok ETK, Verma A, De PP, Goh SK, Puah SH, Goh DEL, Abisheganaden JA. Profiling non-tuberculous mycobacteria in an Asian setting: characteristics and clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients in Singapore. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018; In Press.

  23. Mitchell AB, Mourad B, Buddle L, Peters MJ, Oliver BGG, Morgan LC. Viruses in bronchiectasis: a pilot study to explore the presence of community acquired respiratory viruses in stable patients and during acute exacerbations. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018; In Press.

  24. Masekela R, Vosloo S, Venter SN, de Beer WZ, Green RJ. The lung microbiome in children with HIV-bronchiectasis: a cross-sectional pilot study. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018; In Press.

  25. Birch J, Sunny SS, Hester KLM, Parry G, Gould FK, Dark JH, Clark SC, Meachery G, Lordan J, Fisher AJ, et al. Outcomes of lung transplantation in adults with bronchiectasis. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018; In Press.

  26. Tissot A, Thomas MF, Corris PA, Brodlie M. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection and lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis: a worldwide survey of clinical practice. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018; In Press.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

SHC and JC contributed to conception, drafting, writing and final approval of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanjay H. Chotirmall.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chotirmall, S.H., Chalmers, J.D. Bronchiectasis: an emerging global epidemic. BMC Pulm Med 18, 76 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-018-0629-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-018-0629-1

Keywords