Comorbid conditions in patients with physician diagnosed COPD: Data from a tertiary centre in South India.

ABSTRACT

Background: COPD represents an increasing burden worldwide. COPD is a leading cause of hospitalizations in adults, particularly older adults. Comorbidities are a common cause, or a contributing cause, to many of these hospitalizations. Aims & Objective: To study the comorbid conditions in patients with physician diagnosed COPD in a tertiary centre in South India. Material and Methods: A random sample of 500 patients after taking verbal consent were selected from all COPD patients who attended Dr Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Chinnaavutapalli, Vijayawada, over a period of 1year in 2012. Personal interview was held to collect data including age, gender, literacy, occupation, comorbidities. Results: The mean age of 500 COPD patients was 61.2. Out of which 47.2% are below 60 years and 52.8% are above 60 years. Males constituted majority of the study population (80.8%). 77% of the total study population gave a history of smoking. Majority of the patients had 2 comorbid illnesses (30%). Among the co morbidities, depression was the commonest comorbid illness (50.4%), followed by anaemia (44%). Conclusion: Knowledge regarding associated comorbidities with COPD in a tertiary care center helps the physician to take the comprehensive management plan. We recommend screening of patients with COPD for possible comorbidities so that appropriate treatment can be initiated at the earliest so as to decrease the cost burden.