Extract
Bronchiectasis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways with high symptom burden, including chronic cough [1]. The current management strategy includes identifying aetiology, comorbidity, and treatable traits. The role of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with or without long-acting beta agonists (LABA) in treatment is uncertain. ICS use is only advised for patients with coexisting asthma or COPD [1, 2]. However, up to 53.1% of bronchiectasis patients use ICS or ICS/LABA, with a third having no asthma or COPD diagnosis, according to a recent EMBARC analysis (European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration) [3]. A study by Martinez-Garcia et al. showed that ICS/LABA can alleviate cough in bronchiectasis patients compared to ICS alone [4]. In our multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial comparing beclomethasone-formoterol versus placebo, we hypothesised that ICS/LABA could reduce cough complaints in bronchiectasis patients without asthma or COPD.
Footnotes
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Conflict of interest: T van der Veer declares support for the present study from Chiesi Pharmaceuticals (provision of study medication; no payments and no other support provided).
Conflict of interest: JM de Koning Gans declares support for the present study from Chiesi Pharmaceuticals (provision of study medication; no payments and no other support provided).
Conflict of interest: GJ Braunstahl declares grants or contract funds paid to their institution by GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Sanofi; consulting fees from Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, ALK Abello and AstraZeneca; and payment or honoraria from Chiesi, ALK Abello, GlaxoSmithKline and TEVA, all in the 36 months prior to manuscript submission; and that they hold unpaid roles as the Chair of the Asthma Section of NVALT and an editorial board member of NTvAAKI.
Conflict of interest: LSJ Kamphuis declares payment from Chiesi for developing e-learning materials about non-CF bronchiectasis, in the 36 months prior to manuscript submission.
Conflict of interest: JGJV Aerts declares payment of speaker's fees from Eli Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme and BIOCAD; and participation on Data Safety Monitoring Boards or Advisory Boards for Eli Lilly, Amphera, BIOCAD and Merck Sharp & Dohmr, all in the 36 months prior to manuscript submission. In addition, they have patents planned, issued or pending with Pamgene and Amphera, and hold stock in Amphera. They also declare board membership of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Conflict of interest: MM van der Eerden declares support for the present study from Chiesi Pharmaceuticals (provision of study medication; no payments and no other support provided).
Conflict of interest: All other authors declare no competing interests
- Received January 31, 2023.
- Accepted May 9, 2023.
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