FREQUENCY OF ALLERGIC BRONCHOPULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS (ABPA) IN OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY DISEASE PRESENTING TO A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, HYDERABAD

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) and associated factors among patients with obstructive airway disease (OAD) presenting to a tertiary care hospital, Hyderabad

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pulmonology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro/Hyderabad. A total of 171 patients aged 18–80 years with obstructive airway disease, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and bronchiectasis, were enrolled through consecutive non-probability sampling. Demographic characteristics, smoking status, comorbid conditions, disease duration, laboratory investigations, and radiological findings were recorded. ABPA was diagnosed according to the revised International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ABPA.

Results: The mean age of participants was 52.6 ± 13.8 years, and 102 (59.6%) were male. ABPA was diagnosed in 31 (18.1%) patients. The prevalence of ABPA was highest among patients with bronchiectasis (31.3%), followed by asthma (20.5%) and COPD (8.9%). Smoking, eosinophilia, and disease duration greater than five years were significantly associated with ABPA on univariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that eosinophilia (AOR: 4.8, 95% CI: 2.0–11.4; p<0.001), bronchiectasis (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.3–7.7; p=0.011), and disease duration greater than five years (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1–5.3; p=0.029) were independent predictors of ABPA.

Conclusion: ABPA was identified in a substantial proportion of patients with obstructive airway disease. Bronchiectasis, eosinophilia, and prolonged disease duration were significant predictors of ABPA. Routine screening of high-risk patients may facilitate early diagnosis and prevent irreversible pulmonary complications.