Final Thoughts on Bronchiectasis Management

Clinical Brief: Unmet Needs in Bronchiectasis Management

Main Discussion Topics

• Standardized end points for clinical trials are needed.
• Better anti-inflammatory and antibiotic options for resistant organisms are required.
• Antibiotic stewardship specific to bronchiectasis should be developed.

Key Points for Physicians

• Current challenges include the following:
  • Lack of consensus on optimal clinical trial end points (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, exacerbation reduction, quality of life)
  • Limited evidence for airway clearance device selection and protocols
  • Increasing antibiotic resistance
  • Management of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections
  • Insurance coverage for devices and medications
• Despite being common, bronchiectasis remains underrecognized and underdiagnosed.
• Bronchiectasis represents a significant burden in terms of health care costs, morbidity, and mortality.

Notable Insights

The panel emphasized that bronchiectasis is not a rare disease, as previously thought, but is rather common and significantly impacts quality of life, making investment in better detection and management crucial.

Clinical Significance

Despite recent advances, substantial unmet needs remain in bronchiectasis management, creating opportunities for research and clinical practice improvement to reduce the significant burden of this disease.