{
  "abstract": "Introduction Bronchiectasis exhibits substantial heterogeneity across geographic locations and includes a diverse range of aetiologies. Limited large-scale data are available for Southeast Asian countries.Methods This was a multicentre, retrospective, observational cohort study. Between January 2017 and June 2020, comprehensive clinical data were collected on enrolment, and 1-year follow-ups were conducted using an electronic case report form.Results A total of 2753 patients were enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 67 years. Forty-two per cent (1150/2753) of patients were male. The mean modified Reiff score was 5.0±3.3. The proportions of bacteria, tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria cultured from sputum within 1 year of follow-up were 46% (381/829), 1% (10/829) and 24% (202/829), respectively. The most prevalent bacterial isolate was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (11%). Airflow obstruction was observed in 32% of patients, and 39% used inhaled bronchodilators. A substantial proportion (57%) of the patients were prescribed mucolytics. Seventeen per cent of the patients experienced severe exacerbations within a year. One-year all-cause mortality rate was 2% (52 of 2563 patients). Female patients demonstrated more severe imaging findings than male patients (modified Reiff score, 5.2 vs 4.6, p<0.001). However, they exhibited less obstructive lung function impairment (26% vs 40%, p<0.001), experienced fewer severe exacerbations (15% vs 20%, p=0.002) and had lower mortality rates (2% vs 5%, p<0.001). The risk of severe exacerbation and mortality increased significantly among patients older than 80 years.Conclusion Although female patients with bronchiectasis exhibited more severe imaging findings, their prognoses were better in Taiwan. Elderly patients older than 80 years had worse prognosis.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan, Hsinchu, Taiwan",
        "Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Chia-Ling Chang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan",
        "Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Chau-Chyun Sheu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Thoracic Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Ping-Huai Wang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan",
        "College of Medicine Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Meng-Heng Hsieh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan",
        "Critical Medical Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Wu-Huei Hsu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Ming-Tsung Chen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Wei-Fan Ou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Cancer Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan",
        "School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Yu-Feng Wei"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Tsung-Ming Yang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Chou-Chin Lan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Internal Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Cheng-Yi Wang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan",
        "School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Chih-Bin Lin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Ming-Shian Lin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan",
        "School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Yao-Tung Wang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Chest Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Changhua, Taiwan",
        "Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Ching-Hsiung Lin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan",
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Shih-Feng Liu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan",
        "Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Meng-Hsuan Cheng"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yunlin Branch, Douliou, Taiwan",
        "Thoracic Medicine Center, Department of Medicine and Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Douliu, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Yen-Fu Chen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Wen-Chien Cheng"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Chung-Kan Peng"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan",
        "School of Post Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Ming-Cheng Chan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Cancer Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Ching-Yi Chen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Lun-Yu Jao"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical Research Center, Cardinal Tien Hospital and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Ya-Hui Wang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Chi-Jui Chen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan",
        "Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Shih-Pin Chen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan",
        "Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Lee’s Clinic, Pingtung, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Yi-Hsuan Tsai"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Thoracic Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan",
        "Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Shih-Lung Cheng"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan",
        "College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Horng-Chyuan Lin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Jung-Yien Chien"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan",
        "Department of Medicine National Taiwan University Cancer Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Hao-Chien Wang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [],
      "name": "TBARC Taiwan Bronchiectasis Research Collaboration"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in Taiwan",
  "uid": "48d0aaa0-9cbe-595f-a11e-e9b83a242d48"
}