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.