Co-morbidities in 99 COPD patients: A case series from Syria

OBJECTIVES To assess the most frequent co-morbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied 99 patients, including 72 males and 67 smokers, presented to our University Hospital in Lattakia, Syria in 2012, with a mean age of 63 years. RESULTS Overall, there were 61% hypertension, 37% ischemic heart disease, 25% diabetes, 45% anemia, and 47% pulmonary hypertension. Other diseases were less significant. Patients who had more severe Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage had a greater number of co-morbidities. CONCLUSIONS We recommend as a general practice, to assess cardiac co-morbidities, hypertension, and other co-morbidities in all COPD patients and vice versa. We also recommend performing spirometry in smokers complaining of chronic cough, sputum, or dyspnea for early diagnosis of COPD.