Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent chronic lung disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is associated with significant healthcare costs. Understanding the clinical and echocardiographical profile of patients with COPD is crucial for improving the management and outcomes of this disease. Material and Methodology: In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records of patients diagnosed with COPD who underwent echocardiography at our institution between January 2019 and December 2021. We collected data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and echocardiographic findings. Results: A total of 150 patients were included in the study. The majority of patients were male (63.3%) and current or former smokers (86.7%). The mean age of the patients was 67.5 ± 9.6 years. The most common symptom reported by patients was shortness of breath (85.3%), followed by cough (74.7%) and sputum production (64.7%). Echocardiography revealed that 62% of patients had pulmonary hypertension, 52% had right ventricular dysfunction, and 44% had left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. There was a significant association between the severity of COPD and the presence of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction. Conclusion: Our study provides a descriptive clinical and echocardiographical profile of patients with COPD. The majority of patients had a history of smoking and presented with symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, and sputum production. Echocardiography revealed a high prevalence of pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular dysfunction, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with COPD. The severity of COPD was significantly associated with the presence of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction. These findings highlight the importance of assessing cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with COPD to improve their management and outcomes

Description