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BACKGROUND: Chronic lung diseases such as bronchiectasis (BR) can adversely affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but there are limited studies conducted to investigate HRQOL in elderly BR patients. This study aims to investigate the HRQOL in elderly patients with BR and to assess its relationship with clinical outcomes and radiological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 74 elderly BR patients involved in the study. BR was diagnosed using high-resolution computed tomography, and all patients were evaluated with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Symptoms, pulmonary function tests, BR Severity Index (BSI), Reiff's score, and medical treatments were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 70.1 ± 5.0 (range: 65-89) years, and 41 (55.4%) were men. The mean SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Health Component Summary (MCS) scores of the 74 elderly patients with BR were 36.6 ± 11.2 (range: 16.3-70) and 44.8 ± 8.9 (range: 23-59.6), respectively. All of the SF-36 subscale results except physical functioning subscale were lower in elderly patients with BR than in the normal Turkish elderly population. There was a major difference in the pain domain between males and females (57.9 ± 27.7 vs. 43.9 ± 27.6, respectively; P = 0.035), but there was no other significant difference between SF-36 domains by gender. The BSI was strongly correlated with all SF-36 subscales. There were statistically significant correlations between Reiff's score, forced expiratory volume in 1 s percent predicted value, forced vital capacity percent predicted value, and number of admissions to the emergency room in the previous year and some SF-36 subscales (P < 0.05). However, there was no correlation between age and PCS, MCS, or SF-36 subscales. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that elderly patients with BR had poorer HRQOL scores. The BSI, Reiff's score, and pulmonary function tests were correlated with the SF-36 domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (non-CF BR) is common in developing countries. Limited data are available regarding the impact of atopy, and no data are available regarding allergic rhinitis in patients with adult bronchiectasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of atopy and allergic rhinitis in the clinical conditions of patients with BR. Materials and methods: The study enrolled 101 patients who were diagnosed with non-CF BR using high-resolution computed chest tomography. Allergic rhinitis (AR) was defined by skin prick test (SPT) positivity and the presence of any nasal symptoms (watery runny nose, nasal obstruction, nasal itching, and sneezing). Results: The mean age of patients was 48 ± 15 years (range 18-82); 55 (54.5%) patients were female. SPT positivity was detected in 37 (36.6%) cases. AR was detected in 32 (31.7%) patients with non-CF BR. AR was related to dyspnea (P = 0.04) and number of admissions to an emergency department in the previous year (P = 0.01). Forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity in patients with and without AR were different (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). AR was correlated with number of admissions to an emergency department in the last year (r = 0.417, P = 0.005). Conclusion: We concluded that atopy was detected in more than one-third of adult non-CF BR patients. This study demonstrated that non-CF BR patients might have AR; it might be important to be aware of nasal symptoms in non-CF BR patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: We evaluated patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) who attended our clinic. Materials and methods: We retrospectively investigated the clinical and radiological findings, diagnostic methods, treatment, and follow-up outcomes of 17 patients who had been histopathologically diagnosed with COP. Results: The mean age of the patients was 49.8 ± 10.4 years. The most common symptom was cough (n = 15; 88.2%) and the most common radiological finding (n = 10) was consolidation in the inferior lobes on thoracic computed tomography. The diagnosis of COP was made by open lung biopsy in 11 (64.7%) patients, transbronchial biopsy in 5 (29.4%), and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery biopsy in 1 (5.9%). The mean follow-up period was 28.7 ± 25.0 (range: 3-85) months. Twelve patients received oral corticosteroid therapy and seven of them improved without any fibrotic changes. One patient refused treatment; a chest radiography of that patient was found to be normal at the end of the 20-month follow-up period. Three patients received no other therapy, as the lesion had been completely excised. Conclusion: Common symptoms included cough and dyspnea, while the main radiological presentation of COP was consolidation. Corticosteroids are a good treatment option in general, but relapse may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor and a response to the letter about an article on patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting in the November 2011 issue are presented.