Bronchiectasis risk factors
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hamid Qazi, MD, BSc [2], Saarah T. Alkhairy, M.D.
Overview
Common risk factors in the development of bronchiectasis include cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, exposure to chemical irritants, connective tissue disease, immunodeficiencies, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and history of childhood infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough, adenovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Bronchiectasis Risk Factors
The risk factors are mainly the primary causes of bronchiectasis.
The following table lists the most common risk factors of bronchiectasis:[1]
| Risk | Factor Description |
|---|---|
| Cystic fibrosis | Due to ciliary dysfunction, the mucous secretion accumulates in the airways. This leads to increased infection and damage to the airways. |
| Primary ciliary dyskinesia | Due to ciliary dysfunction, the mucous secretion accumulates in the airways. This leads to increased infection and damage to the airways. |
| Childhood infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough, adenovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae | These infections damage the airways, which leads to more infections |
| Retained foreign object | This prevents mucus from clearing from the airway |
| Exposure to chemical irritants | This leads to inflammation and mucous secretion |
| Connective tissue disease | This leads to pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation of the airways, and traction bronchiectasis |
| Immunodeficiencies | There are increased infections and mucus secretion |
| Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) | The allergic reaction to the fungus aspergillus causes inflammation of the airways, repeated infections, and accumulation of mucus |
| Toxic fumes, gases, smoke, and other harmful substances | There cause irritation and inflammation of the airways |
| Low BMI | It is associated with low immune function, leading to increased infections |
References
Template:WH Template:WS
© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH