Cardiovascular Events During and After Bronchiectasis Exacerbations and Long-term Mortality

Background: Population-based and retrospective studies have shown that risk for cardiovascular events such as arrythmias, ischemic episodes, or heart failure, increase during and after bronchiectasis exacerbations. Research Question: What are the risk factors for cardiovascular events (CVE) during and after bronchiectasis exacerbations and their impact on mortality? Study Design and Methods: This was a post hoc retrospective analysis of a prospective observational study of 250 patients with bronchiectasis at two tertiary care hospitals. Only the first exacerbation was considered for each patient, collecting demographic, comorbidity, and severity data. The main outcomes were the appearance of CVE and mortality. Risk factors for CVE were analyzed using a semi-competing risks model. Results: During a median follow-up of 35 months, 74 (29.6%) patients had a CVE and 93 (37.2%) died. Semi-competing risk analysis indicated that age, arterial hypertension, COPD, and potentially severe exacerbations significantly increased the risk for developing CVE. Compared with patients without CVE, those with CVE had higher mortality. Interpretation: Demographic factors and comorbidities are risk factors for the development of CVE after an acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis. The appearance of CVE worsens long-term prognosis.