Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slowly progressing disease involving the airways or pulmonary parenchyma (or both) resulting in airflow obstruction. Among women, the increased prevalence of COPD can be attributed to the biological differences, environmental tobacco smoke and occupational exposure. Present study was aimed to study chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among female patients at a tertiary hospital. Material and Methods: Present study was single-center, prospective, observational study, conducted in women with chronic cough for periods over 2 months for 2 or more years with sputum production, dyspnea, recently diagnosed as a case of COPD on spirometry. Results: Among 41 women diagnosed with COPD, mean age was 60.92 ± 12.54 years. Majority were from age group was 51-70 years (63.41 %). Common clinical features were cough (100 %), expectoration (95.12 %), fever (39.02 %) & edema feet (17.07 %). Staging of COPD was done according to GOLD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) guidelines, majority were from stage 1 & 2 (36.59 % each), followed by stage 3 (17.07 %) & 4 (9.76 %). No patient had history of active smoking. In cases smoke exposure was noted as passive tobacco smoke (19.51 %), biomass smoke (chulha) (14.63 %) & no exposure noted in majority cases (65.85 %). On chest X ray, radiological findings noted were hyperinflation (82.93 %), increased bronchovascular markings (BVM) (80.49 %), low placed diaphragm (51.22 %), presence of bullae (34.15 %) & tubular heart (21.95 %). At the time of diagnosis complications noted were pneumonia (17.07 %), bronchiectasis (14.63 %), right heart failure (12.2 %) & pneumothorax (7.32 %). Conclusion: Traffic and other outdoor pollution, secondhand smoke & biomass smoke are likely causes of COPD in women who don’t smoke tobacco products.

Description