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INTRODUCTION[|]There are similarities in the symptoms and attacks of bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic systemic inflammation in COPD and destructive pulmonary inflammation in bronchiectasis lead to increases in inflammatory markers. The presence of peripheral blood eosinophil (PBE)(>2%) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) affect the type of attack and the treatment approach. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in inflammatory markers and the presence of PBE in COPD and bronchiectasis.[¤]METHODS[|]A retrospective, cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed in 2014 with bronchiectasis (J47.0-ICD) or COPD (J44.0-J44.9-ICD) at the inpatient or outpatient clinics of a chest disease hospital was performed. Patients with cancer, hematological disease, renal disease, or COPD with bronchiectasis were excluded. Demographic details and the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were recorded, and the NLR was calculated. The study groups were then sub-classified according to PBE.[¤]RESULTS[|]In all, 2664 patients (outpatient bronchiectasis: n=1024, outpatient COPD: 775; inpatient bronchiectasis: n=180, inpatient COPD n=685) were included. The NLR was significantly lower in the bronchiectasis group. The median CRP level was lower in those with bronchiectasis than in the COPD inpatien group. The PBE values in the bronchiectasis and COPD inpatient groups was 24% and 40%, respectively and 18% and 40% in outpatient groups, respectively. The NLR in patients with PBE was lower than that observed in noneosinophilic patients.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]Inflammatory markers were lower in patients with bronchiectasis than in those with COPD. Continuous anti-inflammatory treatment may be recommended for patients with COPD. NLR and PBE may be able to indicate the nature of advisable treatment in further studies.[¤]

INTRODUCTION[|]Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admitted to the pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program may lose their post-PR gains over time. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the gains after PR continued in the first month following PR. [¤]METHODS[|]Patients with COPD who completed the PR program were evaluated retrospectively. The incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT) was used to measure the exercise capacity. In PR, patients were trained in strengthening exercises, cycling, walking band, and respiratory exercises in the presence of physiotherapist 2 days a week for a total of 8 weeks. After PR, patients were asked to record their exercise status each day into an exercise log. [¤]RESULTS[|]A total of 35 patients with COPD (mean age 64+-8 years) participated in the study. There was a significant increase in the exercise capacity at the ISWT before and after PR (0.001) and the first month after the PR (p=0.001). In the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, a significant improvement was observed before and after PR and at the first-month follow-up (p