Clinical pattern of COPD in South India - A global public health problem
2012
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD), among all noncommunicable diseases and chronic respiratory diseases, continues to be on the increase,mostly attributed to limited doctor/patient health education globally.Associated comorbidities are not often evaluated concurrently that a sizeable number of patients die of alternate disorders.Spirometry being the gold standard for diagnosis is forgotten that these patients are treated for few days as "9Bronchitis"9.The purpose of this communication is to highlight the clinical pattern of this disease as guidelines for the medical profession. A total of 235 patients in the agegroup35-77 were evaluated in the year 2011.The diagnosis was established by history,exposure to tobacco,atmospheric and/or industrial pollutants,clinical and laboratory examination and not the least, spirometry.EKG,imaging studies and echo were done as relevant. The clinical observations include: 1.Majority were males and smokers. 2.8 patients(3.4%)were non tobacco smokers. 3.Non tobacco smokers and those with comorbidities were symptomatic early. 4.Patients with echo based pulmonary arterial hypertension/corpulmonale died early. 5.Majority of patients were elderly-60- 70 years. 6.Common comorbidities were cardiovascular and musculoskeletal and related features. 7Few of the patients initially presented with cardiac symtoms,diverting the attention of the primary disease, often forgotten. 8.Associated tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus were not uncommon. Comments:There is still need for improved patient/doctor health education.All patients with smoking history for 5 years or more should be evaluated early before developing complications.
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