Publication:

The clinical profile of obstructive lung diseases patients attending tertiary care hospital in Nanded, Maharashtra: an observational study

Background Obstructive lung diseases as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have considerable morbidity and mortality globally. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a major public health problem. It is projected to rank fifth in 2020 in burden of disease worldwide, according to the WHO study. Aim and objectives was to evaluate clinical profiles of obstructive lung diseases patients attending tertiary care hospital.

Methods The data was collected from 112 obstructive lung diseases patients presenting to OPD of pulmonary medicine department from January 2009 to August 2010. Research tool comprised of questions about demographic characteristics, past or presenting symptoms, general and systemic examinations. For statistical analysis MS Excel and SPSS 16 were used.

Results Overall 72 (64.28%) were smokers. 63 (56.25%) were suffering from COPD and 49 (43.75%) were asthmatic. Breathlessness was found as most common symptom in 53 (84.12%) COPD and in 45 (91.83%) asthma patients. Among COPD patients, 26 (41.26%) were of moderate obstruction whereas in asthma patients, 17 (34.69%) were of moderate obstruction and 16 (32.65%) were of severe obstruction as per Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT).

Conclusions Males were most commonly affected in obstructive lung diseases. COPD was common after 35 years of age where as asthma occurs mostly before 35 years of age. Smoking was most common etiological factor. Breathlessness was the most common presenting symptom. Family history of asthma was most common risk factor for asthma patients. Most of the patients with both COPD as well as asthma had moderate type of obstructions.