Table 3.
Patient demographics, symptoms, predisposing conditions, underlying respiratory diagnoses and radiographic features by ATS diagnostic group.
| Characteristics | ATS Positive (n = 112) | ATS Negative (n = 332) | Total (n = 444) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demography | |||
| Mean age (years) | 65 | 67 | |
| Female | 59 (51.8) | 150 (45.18) | 209 (47.07) |
| First isolate? | |||
| Yes | 99 (86.8) | 305 (91.87) | 404 (90.99) |
| Site | |||
| Sputum**** | 78 (61.90) | 301 (90.12) | 379 (82.39) |
| BAL**** | 48 (38.10) | 33 (9.88) | 81 (17.61) |
| Symptoms | |||
| Productive cough* | 89 (79.46) | 227 (68.37) | 316 (71.17) |
| Haemoptysis* | 22 (19.64) | 34 (10.24) | 56 (12.61) |
| Dyspnoea | 26 (23.21) | 71 (21.39) | 97 (21.85) |
| Fever** | 14 (12.50) | 12 (3.61) | 26 (5.86) |
| Night sweats* | 15 (13.39) | 19 (5.72) | 34 (7.66) |
| Weight loss**** | 40 (35.71) | 53 (15.96) | 93 (20.95) |
| Fatigue | 6 (5.36) | 16 (4.82) | 22 (4.95) |
| Underlying lung disease | |||
| Yes | 99 (88.39) | 281 (84.64) | 380 (85.59) |
| TB | 11 (9.82) | 39 (11.75) | 50 (11.26) |
| Bronchiectasis | 43 (38.39) | 146 (43.98) | 189 (42.57) |
| Asthma | 19 (16.96) | 63 (18.98) | 82 (18.47) |
| COPD | 50 (44.64) | 124 (37.35) | 174 (39.19) |
| Pulmonary Fibrosis | 6 (5.36) | 16 (4.82) | 22 (4.95) |
| Lung carcinoma | — | 16 (4.82) | 16 (3.60) |
| Other# | 10 (8.93) | 20 (6.02) | 30 (6.76) |
| Predisposing conditions | |||
| Inhaled corticosteroids | 68 (60.71) | 181 (54.52) | 249 (56.08) |
| Alcohol dependence | 3 (2.68) | 7 (2.11) | 10 (2.25) |
| Regular oral steroid use | 16 (14.29) | 36 (10.84) | 52 (11.71) |
| HIV infection* | 6 (5.36) | 4 (1.2) | 10 (2.25) |
| Haematological malignancy | 3 (2.68) | 8 (2.41) | 11 (2.48) |
| Anti-TNF treatment | 1 (0.89) | 8 (2.41) | 9 (2.03) |
| Other immunosuppressants∆ | 4 (3.57) | 12 (3.61) | 16 (3.60) |
| Radiological features | |||
| No thoracic CT available | 5 (4.46) | 91 (27.41) | 96 (21.62) |
| Tree-in-bud**** | 23 (20.52) | 11 (3.31) | 34 (7.66) |
| Nodules**** | 33 (29.46) | 30 (9.04) | 63 (14.19) |
| Cavities**** | 51 (45.54) | 30 (9.04) | 81 (18.24) |
| Emphysema | 5 (4.46) | 20 (6.02) | 25 (5.63) |
| Bronchiectasis | 22 (19.64) | 73 (21.99) | 21.40) |
Results are shown as n (%).
*P < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ****p < 0.0001.
#Other respiratory conditions: aspergillosis lung disease (n = 17), Churg-Strauss syndrome/EGPA eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (n = 4) tracheobronchitis (n = 1), chronic bronchiolitis (n = 1), obliterative bronchiolitis (n = 1) cystic fibrosis (n = 5).
∆Other immunosuppressants: chemotherapy (n = 7), methotrexate (n = 4), sulfasalazine (n = 2), mycophenylate (n = 1) azathioprine (n = 1), undefined (n = 1).