Ongoing Research May Link Asthma and Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis in Children

This systematic review aims to explore the pathophysiology of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis with associated asthma in children and adolescents, shedding light on the inflammatory profile and potential implications for treatment strategies.

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) defines asthma as a chronic disease characterized by airway inflammation, affecting up to 29% of the population worldwide. Asthma has been associated with other diseases such as bronchiectasis, a chronic lung disease defined by the irreversible widening of the bronchial tree and a cycle of infection and inflammation. The literature divides bronchiectasis into cystic fibrosis-related and non-cystic fibrosis-related categories. Identifying and managing comorbidities, such as bronchiectasis in asthmatic children and adolescents, is crucial for controlling symptoms and preventing complications.

Researchers are including observational studies such as cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies in their review. Excluded from the study are letters to editors, case reports, editorials, and narrative reviews. The study screening process involves using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study population consists of children and/or adolescents diagnosed with asthma and associated non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Participants must be aged 6 to 18 years old, regardless of gender and ethnicity, and have their diagnoses confirmed using specific criteria and computed tomography.

“A systematic review will provide better knowledge about the etiopathogenesis and causes of the association between asthma and bronchiectasis and its role in the severity and control of asthma,” said researchers on their ongoing work. “Identifying, selecting, and critically evaluating studies on asthma and bronchiectasis, would be possible to illuminate the characteristics of children and adolescents with associated diagnoses and provide information to help individualized treatments in order to control and prevent complications.”

Reference
da Silva NC, Malagutti BC, Ladeira JMCD, et al. Pathophysiology of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adolescents with asthma: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS One. 2024;19(4): e0294921. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0294921