ABSTRACT
Objectives: to evaluate patients of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases [COPD] by spirometry in adult rural population of Karachi
Patients and methods: 53 patients of COPD were subjected to spirometry when they presented with dyspnea in Emergency / Out Patient Department of Fatima hospital. Forced Vital Capacity [FVC], Forced Expiratory Volume in first second [FEY 1] , Peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] and Percentage ratio [FEY 1 /FVC] were recorded. The variables were compared with control group comprising healthy individuals
Results: 25 out of 53 patients were female between the ages of 16-70 years with mean age 46.24 +/- 5.56 and 28 males between the ages of 16-70 years with mean age 39.5+/- 5:43 were included in the study. FVC ranged between 0.61 to 3.0L with mean 1.80+/- 0.84 SD in patients and 1.85 to 5.67L with mean 3.22 +/- 1.03 SD in control group [p<0.05]. FEVl ranged between 0.4L to 3.82L with mean 1.22:t0.75SD in patients and 1.81L to 4.03L with mean 2.85+/- 0.65SD in control group [p<0.5]. PEFR ranged between 0.55 L/min with mean 2.99+/- 0,81SD in control group [p<0.01]. FEV1/FVC ranged between 23 to 98% with mean 66+/- 18.0lSD in patients and 70 to 99% with mean 88+/- 9.70SD in control group
Conclusion: pulmonary function testing is a useful objective parameter in the evaluation and progress of COPD patients