Clinico-spirometrical correlation of newly detected COPD patients with known tobacco smoking exposure or biomass smoke exposure presenting to a teaching institution in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnoea, coughing, sputum production) associated with abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis, bronchiolitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema) that result in persistent, frequently progressive airflow obstruction are the hallmarks of COPD, a diverse lung illness. The current investigation aimed to establish a clinical profile of patients with recently diagnosed COPD who present to a healthcare facility in Vadodara.

Materials and methods: The Department of Respiratory Medicine conducted an observational cross-section study on individuals with recently discovered COPD. The study comprised records of 50 participants, from September 2022 to January 2024. Along with the spirometry results, pertinent clinical data were gathered.

Results: The study's patient population presented with an average age of 61.52 years. The fact that every patient in the research was over 40 years old suggests that COPD is becoming more common in people over 40. There was a male majority among the 50 patients, with 40 (80%) male and 10 (20%) female. Most common age group was smokers accounted for 80% of the total cases, suggesting that their incidence of COPD is greater. Average FEV1 at presentation was 41 L/min for 50 patients. Among 50 patients, 6% falls under mild, 28% under moderate, 42% under severe, and 24% under very severe according to GOLD grading and severity of airflow obstruction.

Conclusion: Despite the fact that tobacco smoke is thought to be the main cause of COPD. Indoor and outdoor air pollution are major issues in many nations, including India. One of the main risk factors for COPD is smoke from activities such as burning wood or biomass fuels in addition to work exposure. The ageing of the global population and ongoing exposure to COPD risk factors are expected to contribute to a rise in the prevalence and burden of COPD in the ensuing decades. The fact that most newly diagnosed patients in this research were older and more symptomatic and that most identified individuals had moderate to severe COPD, indicates the importance of spirometry programs in primary care for the early detection of COPD. Our findings suggest that a new campaign requiring patients to undergo spirometry and routine follow-up may be able to identify a sizable proportion of patients with undiagnosed COPD and perhaps improve their quality of life.