Five-Year Outcomes among U.S. Bronchiectasis and NTM Research Registry Patients

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Outcomes Research

Background:

• Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are common in patients with bronchiectasis.
• The long-term natural history and impact of NTM on bronchiectasis outcomes are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of NTM on 5-year clinical outcomes and mortality in individuals diagnosed with bronchiectasis.
• To compare the long-term prognosis of bronchiectasis patients with and without NTM.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the Bronchiectasis and NTM Research Registry, including patients with at least 5 years of follow-up.
• Comparison of all-cause mortality, lung function (spirometry), exacerbations, hospitalizations, and disease severity between NTM-positive and NTM-negative groups.
• Mortality assessment using Cox proportional hazards models and log-rank tests.

Main Results:

• A total of 2,634 patients were analyzed (1,549 with NTM, 1,085 without NTM).
• Five-year all-cause mortality was comparable: 12.6% in the NTM group versus 11.5% in the non-NTM group.
• Lung function, exacerbations (except for a lower rate in the NTM group), hospitalizations, and disease severity were similar between groups over 5 years.

Conclusions:

• In patients with bronchiectasis, the presence of NTM did not significantly alter 5-year clinical outcomes.
• Key outcomes including exacerbations, hospitalizations, lung function decline, and mortality rates were similar regardless of NTM status.