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Malnutrition in non-cyctic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) patients may develop as a result of insufficient nutrient intake and inflammation, which may increase the frequency of exacerbations.

Our study aims to evaluate the nutritional status of NCFB patients and understand whether malnutrition is a risk factor for NCFB exacerbations.

NCFB patients' demographics, pulmonary function tests, bronchiectasis severity index (BSI), anthropometric measurements, bioimpedance analysis, hand-grip strength (HGS), muscle mass by thoracic CT L1 skeletal muscle index (SMI) and malnutrition evaluation by NRS-2022 were recorded. The frequency of exacerbations and hospitalizations was recorded according to the last 1 year medical records.

A total of 86 cases (M/F:44/42 and 60,52±2,82 with a mean years of age) were enrolled. In the high-risk malnutrition group (NRS-2002?3); BMI, FFMI, upper arm circumference, calf circumference,SMI, HGS were significantly reduced, whereas a significant increase in the BSI,frequency of hospitalization for exacerbation were observed. In cases with an exacerbation frequency ?2 in the previous year; FVC (mL), and HGS were significantly reduced whereas BSI got worsened. In logistic regression analysis, each unit increase in BSI scores increased the risk of having ?2 exacerbations in the previous year by 1.04 times.Each unit increase in the HGS is associated with a reduction in risk of ?2 exacerbations in the previous year by 2%; the presence of male gender reduced the risk of malnutrition by 19%,a one unit increase in FFMI reduced the risk of malnutrition by 6%. 

Based on our results, simple and reproducible tests that we may utilize in daily practice to manage NCFB will help us forecast exacerbation and malnutrition.