Assessment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis severity: The FACED Score vs the Bronchiectasis Severity Index

Abstract

<bold>Background:</bold> Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is a chronic lung disease characterised by bronchial dilation, impaired mucociliary clearance, and recurrent infections, leading to progressive tissue damage. <bold>Objective:</bold> This study aims to Evaluate the prognosis of patients followed for bronchiectasis using the FACED score and the Bronchiectasis Severity Index (BSI) and study the correlation between these two scores. <bold>Methods:</bold> A retrospective study was conducted from 2018 to 2024, including NCFB patients followed in the pulmonology department of the Internal Security Forces Hospital in Tunisia. Patients were assessed using the FACED score (FEV1% predicted, age, Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, radiological extent, dyspnea) and the BSI (age, BMI, FEV1% predicted, hospitalizations, exacerbations, dyspnea, microbial colonization, radiological extent). <bold>Results:</bold> Sixty patients were included, with a mean age of 62±14 years [25–87] and a male-to-female ratio of 1.8. Based on the FACED score, 26 patients (43%) had mild bronchiectasis, 24 (40%) had moderate bronchiectasis, and 10 (17%) had severe bronchiectasis, with a mean FACED score of 2.6 ± 1.6. According to the BSI, 17 patients (28%) had a low severity score, 37 (62%) had an intermediate score, and 6 (10%) had a high severity score, with a mean BSI score of 5.8 ± 2. The FACED and BSI scores were correlated (r = 0.715, p=0.001). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The strong correlation between the FACED and BSI scores suggests that both are reliable tools for assessing bronchiectasis severity and prognosis. However, their differing criteria may provide complementary insights in clinical practice.