This blog post was authored by Alyssa Dittner, B.S., RRT and reviewed by the Bronchiectasis and NTM Content Review and Evaluation Committee.

Have you heard of bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (BCOS)? This condition occurs when someone has both bronchiectasis and COPD.¹

Bronchiectasis is a lung disease where the airways get wider and scarred, making it hard for mucus to clear out.² This can lead to frequent lung infections. COPD is a different lung disease that makes breathing difficult because airways become blocked and the lungs lose elasticity that helps air move in and out.³ Although they are different diseases, they can show similar symptoms.

Common symptoms of BCOS include:⁴

• Frequent lung infections.
• Daily cough.
• Shortness of breath.
• Mucus production.
• Feeling tired.
• Weight loss.

Because COPD and bronchiectasis can share similar symptoms, some people may take 12 to 17 years to get the right diagnosis.⁵ COPD can be caused by breathing in irritants like tobacco smoke, pollution and chemicals.⁶ Bronchiectasis can be caused by things outside a person’s control, like frequent lung infections, autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome), and conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes stomach acid to flow back into the lungs.⁷ However, in about 40% of cases, the cause is unknown.⁷

Research shows that BCOS is not fully understood, with diagnosis rates ranging from 4% to 72%.³ High-resolution CT scans are helping health care providers diagnose bronchiectasis more often in people with COPD.²

COPD Does Not Mean You Will Get Bronchiectasis, But You Could Have a Higher Risk

More research is needed to understand the link between the two conditions.³ COPD can make the lungs more sensitive and lead to inflammation (swelling in the airways) from irritants. This can cause the airways to narrow and produce more mucus.³ Over time, this can lead to lung infections and scarring, which might increase the risk of bronchiectasis.⁴

Early Detection Matters

Identifying bronchiectasis early is important to help slow down lung damage.³ If you produce mucus daily, have a constant cough, feel tired or experience shortness of breath, talk to your health care provider about the possibly being tested for bronchiectasis.

Tests Your Health Care Provider Might Recommend

Your health care provider may suggest several tests, including:²

• Chest CT scan: Painless test that takes detailed pictures of your lungs.
• Sputum culture: A collection of mucus to look for bacteria or fungi.
• Pulmonary function test: Breathing test that checks how well your lungs are working.

While there is no cure for bronchiectasis, it can be managed.² Treatment focuses on treating underlying conditions, managing lung infections, using airway clearance techniques, inhaled medications and mucus thinners.⁷

For more information, email info@bronchiectasisandNTM360.org or call 833-411-LUNG (5864).

References

1. Angelis N, Porpodis K, Zarogoulidis P, et al. Airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Journal of thoracic disease. March 2014. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3966160/.
2. D; TK. Clinical challenges in managing bronchiectasis. Respirology (Carlton, Vic.). July 2016. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19659645/.
3. Meterky M, Dransfield M. Bronchiectasis Overlap Syndrome: Does my COPD patient ... The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)–Bronchiectasis Overlap Syndrome: Does My COPD Patient Have Bronchiectasis on Computed Tomography? August 2023. Accessed September 27, 2024. Chen Y-H, Sun Y-C. Bronchiectasis as a comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Implications and future research. Chinese medical journal. September 5, 2016. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5009581/.
4. Angelis N, Porpodis K, Zarogoulidis P, et al. Airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Journal of thoracic disease. March 2014. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3966160/.
5. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.202308-1468VP.
6. Girón RM, de Gracia Roldán J, Olveira C, et al. Sex bias in diagnostic delay in bronchiectasis: An analysis of the spanish historical registry of bronchiectasis. Chronic respiratory disease. November 2017. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5729731/.
7. Doctors A the. Bronchiectasis usually the result of damage to Airways. UCLA Health. February 8, 2021. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/bronchiectasis-usually-the-result-of-damage-to-airways#:~:text=Dear%20Reader%3A%20Although%20bronchiectasis%20and,the%20person%20short%20of%20breath.
8. Bronchiectasis Treatment. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. October 29, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/bronchiectasis/treatment.v