The risk of heart disease and stroke are higher among people with bronchiectasis compared with the general population, research shows.

The study using UK primary care data found pre-existing coronary heart disease (CHD) (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.41) and stroke (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.85 to 2.01) were higher in people with bronchiectasis compared with those without bronchiectasis.

The rate of first CHD and stroke were also higher in people with bronchiectasis (HR for CHD 1.44 (95% CI 1.27 to 1.63) and HR for stroke 1.71 (95% CI 1.54 to 1.90)).

The increased risk did not appear to be attributable to smoking, other established cardiovascular risk factors or co-morbidities associated with the aetiology of bronchiectasis, the authors reported in Thorax. 

They suggested the association between CHD and stroke with bronchiectasis may be because the diseases shared similar risk factors.

The findings should be highlighted to physicians in order to provide a “holistic approach” to the care of these patients, they concluded.