Nebulised 7% hypertonic saline improves lung function and quality of life in bronchiectasis

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Pulmonology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Sputum retention is a major issue in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, worsening infections.
• Previous research indicated nebulised 7% hypertonic saline (HS) is safe and effective for these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of 7% hypertonic saline (HS) compared to 0.9% sodium chloride (IS) in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients.
• To assess the impact of HS on lung function, quality of life, and healthcare utilization.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, single-blind, cross-over study involving 28 patients with confirmed non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
• Patients received daily nebulised HS or IS for 3 months, with a 4-week washout period between treatments.

Main Results:

• 7% hypertonic saline (HS) significantly improved lung function (FEV1: 15.1% vs 1.8%; FVC: 11.2% vs 0.7%) compared to isotonic saline (IS).
• Quality of life scores (SGRQ) improved significantly with HS (6.0 points) versus IS (1.2 points).
• HS reduced annual antibiotic courses (2.4 vs 5.4) and emergency healthcare visits (2.1 vs 4.9) per patient per year.

Conclusions:

• Regular use of 7% hypertonic saline is beneficial for managing non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
• HS improves key clinical outcomes, including lung function, quality of life, and reduces healthcare resource utilization.