Predictors of co-morbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients at a tertiary care centre in north India

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common preventable and treatable disease that is characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. COPD is characterised by an intense inflammatory process in the airways, parenchyma, and pulmonary vasculature. It is possible in some cases that the inflammatory process may overflow into the systemic circulation, promoting a generalised inflammatory reaction. Patient with COPD often have concomitant chronic illness (co-morbidities). The aim of this study is to know the pattern of co-morbidities in COPD patients.Methods: This study was a cross sectional observational study conducted on 172 COPD patients (IPD and OPD) diagnosed on the basis of GOLD guideline 2017. Co morbidities were diagnosed as per standard defined criteria laid down in the respective guidelines.Results: 55.3% of the patients with COPD had co morbidities. 18/88(20.5%) patients presented with multiple co-morbidities. 49/88, 55.7% COPD patients were affected with cardiac (either only cardiac or had multiple organs affected besides cardiac), the commonest co-morbidity. Amongst cardiac, hypertension and congestive heart failure (CHF) was the commonest (n=19/49, 38.8% each) followed by CAD/CSA/IWMI/IHD/AF. Others were metabolic (n=14/88, 15.9%), GERD (n=13/88, 14.8%), Depression (n=11/88, 12.5%). Less prevalent co-morbidities were Osteoporosis (n=8/88, 9.1%), Lung cancer (n=6/88, 6.8%), Bronchiectasis (n=5/88, 5.6%) and OSA (n=3/88, 3.4%).Conclusions: Urban indwelling, advancing age and duration of illness, presentation with low mood, loss of pleasure/ interest, appetite disturbances and heart burn with relief on taking proton pump inhibitor can be predictors of co-morbidities in COPD patients. Chance of finding co-morbidities may be multifactorial. Thus, it is important to look out for co morbidities in each and every COPD patients.