Eur Respir J

Macrolide therapy tied to reduced cardiovascular events in bronchiectasis

April 30, 2025

Study details: This territory-wide cohort study analyzed 22,895 patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis classified as macrolide maintenance therapy (MMT) receivers or non-receivers in Hong Kong from 2001 to 2018. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including CV death, MI, and stroke. Safety outcomes included ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

Results: After 1:2 propensity score matching, the final cohort included 3,137 individuals (1,123 MMT receivers and 2,014 non-receivers). MMT was associated with a significantly reduced risk of MACE (16.38 vs. 24.11 events per 1,000 person-years; hazard ratio [HR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.90). Importantly, MMT didn’t increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death (7.17 vs. 7.67 events per 1,000 person-years; HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.60-1.44).

Clinical impact: MMT in patients with bronchiectasis may serve a dual purpose, not only reducing exacerbations but also exerting a CV protective effect.

Source:

Guo R, et al. (2025, March 6). Eur Respir J. Cardiovascular benefits and safety profile of macrolide maintenance therapy in patients with bronchiectasis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39603670/