The relation between inspiratory muscle strength and bacterial colonization and other clinical factors in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate whether inspiratory muscle strength was associated with bacterial colonization and other clinical outcomes and whether bacterial colonization was associated with clinical outcomes in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). Materials and Methods: Eighty-six patients were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of inspiratory muscle weakness and bacterial colonization. Parameters were compared between groups. Result: Bronchiectasis etiologies were post-infectious, Kartagener's syndrome, and primary ciliary dyskinesia. The median value of MIP was -68, and MEP was 89 cm H2O in all patients. Although the ratio of bacterial colonization was similar to patients without inspiratory muscle weakness, the inspiratory muscle weakness group had a higher number of females, lower FEV1, FVC, ISWT, CRQ, higher MRC, E-FACED, SGRQ, number of hospitalization (p<0.05). When colonized and non-colonized patients were compared, MIP, and MEP were similar in spite of adjusted BMI, age, and sex. FEV1, FVC, ISWT, and ESWT were lower, and E-FACED scores (p<0.05) were higher in colonized patients. Conclusions: Although inspiratory muscle strength was not associated with bacterial colonization in NCFB patients, it is an important factor that could be linked to disease severity, pulmonary functions, quality of life, and exercise capacity. Bacterial colonization was also associated with severe disease, deteriorated pulmonary functions, and exercise capacity.