Bronchiectasis: Understanding diagnosis and management

Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by the permanent dilatation of the bronchi, with chronic airway inflammation, which is associated with chronic sputum production, recurrent chest infections and airflow obstruction. 

This condition leads to impaired clearance of mucus, recurrent infections, and progressive lung damage, with an estimated prevalence of 5 per 1000 within the population of the UK, and accounting for 0.3% of all UK deaths in 2012. Bronchiectasis appears to be diagnosed more commonly in women, with the greatest proportion of the population being diagnosed within the West Midlands, and the lowest within Southeast England, with 60% of diagnoses being made in the over-70s.¹