Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolation is an important predictor for recurrent hemoptysis after bronchial artery embolization in patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis: a multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of bronchiectasis patients receiving bronchial artery embolization (BAE) still have recurrent hemoptysis, which may be life-threatening. Worse still, the underlying risk factors of recurrence remain unknown. METHODS: A retrospective cohort was conducted of patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis who received BAE from 2015 to 2019 at eight centers. Patients were followed up for at least 24 months post BAE. Based on the outcomes of recurrent hemoptysis and recurrent severe hemoptysis, a Cox regression model was used to identify risk factors for recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 588 individuals were included. The median follow-up period was 34.0 months (interquartile range: 24.3–53.3 months). The 1-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year cumulative recurrent hemoptysis-free rates were 87.2%, 67.5%, 57.6%, and 49.4%, respectively. The following factors were relative to recurrent hemoptysis: 24-h sputum volume (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.99 [95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.25–3.15, p = 0.015]), isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (HR = 1.50 [95% CI: 1.13–2.00, p = 0.003]), extensive bronchiectasis (HR = 2.00 [95% CI: 1.29–3.09, p = 0.002]), and aberrant bronchial arteries (AbBAs) (HR = 1.45 [95% CI: 1.09–1.93, p = 0.014]). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the nomogram was 0.728 [95% CI: 0.688–0.769]. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important independent predictor of recurrent hemoptysis. The clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa might effectively reduce the hemoptysis recurrence rate. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-023-02391-9.