Introduction: It is unknown whether people with bronchiectasis have an increased risk for severe disease if infected with SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to determine- 1.  the risk of SARS-CoV2 infection among people with bronchiectasis, and 2. the risk of moderate-severe COVID19 and mortality. 

Methods:  Three population registries (Catalonia, Denmark, and Israel) were searched for adults with an ICD9 code for bronchiectasis, and age and gender-matched controls between 1/1/2020 to 31/12/2020. Adults with a positive SARS-CoV2 PCR were included in the 2nd aim cohort. People with bronchiectasis were matched to controls and followed for 90 days until the occurrence of the outcome of interest. We controlled for confounders including socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and use of systemic or inhaled corticosteroids.

Results: 41645 people with bronchiectasis were matched with 277548 without bronchiectasis according to sex and age. Bronchiectasis did not increase the risk of SARS-CoV2 infection. Among SARS-CoV2 positive individuals, 1517 individuals with bronchiectasis were matched with 6469 without bronchiectasis according to sex, age and month of positive SARS-CoV2 PCR. In multivariate analysis of the three cohorts, bronchiectasis was associated with an increased risk of severe disease: HR=1.47, 95%CI (1.06-2.03). Mortality was not elevated in either cohort or when combined: HR=1.1, 95%CI (0.92-1.31).

Conclusion: Bronchiectasis was not associated with increased risk of infection or mortality from COVID19, but with an elevated risk of moderate- severe disease.