Which scoring system is better in association with exercise capacity and health status in noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients?

Background/aim: Two different scoring systems were developed to determine the severity of bronchiectasis: FACED scoring and the bronchiectasis severity index (BSI). In this study, we aim to compare these 2 scoring systems according to the 6-min walking distance test and a disease-specific health status questionnaire in patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). Materials and methods: Smoking history, emergency and hospital admissions, and body mass index were obtained from NCFB patients admitted to our hospitals’ pulmonary rehabilitation unit between 2013 and 2018. Detailed pulmonary function tests were performed for all participants. Dyspnea perceptions were determined according to the mMRC dyspnea scale. The 6-min walking test was used to determine exercise capacity. The Saint George respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) was applied to determine health status. Both FACED and BSI scores were calculated for all participants. Results: There were a total of 183 participants, 153 of whom were men. A significant and strong correlation was found between FACED and BSI scores. As the severity of bronchiectasis increased, walking distance was significantly decreased and health status was significantly worse in both FACED and BSI scoring. A statistically significant but weak negative correlation was found between FACED score and walking distance. There was a significant negative correlation between BSI and walking distance, a stronger negative correlation than with FACED. Similarly, there was a significant negative correlation between health status and both FACED and BSI, but this correlation was stronger in the BSI score. Conclusions: Although both FACED and BSI scores were negatively correlated with walking distance and health status in patients with NCFB, BSI was more strongly associated.