Etiologies and Short-Term Outcomes of Hemoptysis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Hemoptysis, the expectoration of blood from the lower respiratory tract, is a clinically significant symptom that can range from benign to life-threatening. Understanding its etiologies and predicting outcomes is essential for effective patient management. Objective: To determine the etiological spectrum and short-term clinical outcomes of hemoptysis in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 134 patients presenting with hemoptysis at Indus Hospital, Karachi from December 2024 to May 2025. Data were collected through consecutive sampling. Demographic details, clinical history, comorbidities, radiographic and bronchoscopic findings, as well as final diagnoses and treatment outcomes, were recorded. Results: The majority of patients were male (63.4%) with a mean age of 45.7 ± 17.8 years. Tuberculosis was the leading etiology (47.8%), followed by bronchiectasis (18.7%) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (13.4%). Most patients presented with mild (50%) to moderate (32.1%) hemoptysis. The most frequent symptoms were cough (92.5%) and dyspnea (70.1%). Significant associations were found between smoking status (p=0.019), hemoptysis duration (p=0.008), bronchoscopy findings (p=0.039), comorbidities (p=0.018), diagnosis (p<0.0001), and treatment modality (p<0.0001) with clinical outcomes. Full recovery was observed in 56.7% of patients, while 32.1% showed clinical improvement, 9.0% showed no improvement, and 2.2% died. Conclusion: Tuberculosis remains the most common cause of hemoptysis in this setting. Smoking, comorbidities, abnormal bronchoscopy findings, and delayed presentation are associated with worse outcomes. Early identification of etiology and appropriate management are crucial for improving prognosis in patients presenting with hemoptysis.