Frequency of Pulmonary Hypertension in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Abstract

Objective:  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive, irreversible airflow limitation and chronic inflammation caused by inhalation of cigarette smoke or other noxious particles. It is associated with a number of morbidities and complications. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of pulmonary hypertension in COPD.Materials Methods: This was descriptive, cross sectional study  was carried out in the Department of Pulmonology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan over six months duration, from  July to December, 2015.  Methodology:  Diagnosed cases of COPD of either gender and aged 35 years and above were included in the study through consecutive, non-probability sampling technique. Patients with asthma, pulmonary hypertension, ischemic heart disease, collagen vascular disease were excluded from the study. The sample size was calculated using theWHOsoftware for sample size, assuming 50% proportion of pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients, 95% confidence interval and7%margin of error.Results:  A total of 196 patients were enrolled in the study. 151(77%) were male and 45 (23%) were female. Patients were divided in age groups as; 32 (16.3%) patients were in age 35-50 years, 39(19.9%) patients in 51-60 years, 62 (31.6%) patients in 61-70 years and 63(32.1%) patients were above 70 years. Mean age was 64.96 years. 43.4% of patients have Moderate COPD (FEV1:50% - 69%), 30.6% have severe COPD (FEV1:30%-49%) and 26%have very severe COPD (FEV1< 30%).PHT was found in 45.4% of COPD patients.Conclusion:  Patients with COPD had a significant prevalence of pulmonary hypertension, and failure to address this may lead to complications.