A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF PRE DISPOSING FACTORS AND ASSESSMENT OF SEVERITY AMONG ACUTE EXACERBATION CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE PATIENTS

COPD exacerbation plays a central role in the natural history of the disease, affecting its overall severity, decreasing pulmonary function, worsening underlying co-morbidities, impairing quality of life (QoL) and leading to severe morbidity and mortality.The aim of the study is to evaluate the predisposing factors and assessment of severity among acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. The study was conducted in Karuna Medical College Hospital Chittur, Palakkad. 106 cases satisfying the inclusion criteria were taken from patients attending the General Medicine ward and ICU due to AECOPD over a duration of 6 months. Specially designed data entry form was used to collect data related to the patient’s demographics, laboratory values, social habits, occupational, allergy, medications prescribed on admission were also recorded. The study comparing the gender wise prevalence reveals that there is a higher frequency of AECOPD in males 89.6% (n=95) than in females 10.3% (n=11). AECOPD are frequently seen in the age group 60-69 years. In our study concerning the risk factors, most of the patient’s exacerbation was due to their occupation which includes mill factory, road construction, farmers, exposure to kitchen smoke. The prevalence of COPD in regards with the risk factors estimates the higher rate in ever-smokers than in non-smokers. In case of smoking, there is 75% chance for producing AECOPD in the age group>45yrs and 2% chance for producing AECOPD in the age group <45yrs. Assessment of severity was studied based on Anthonisen classification. Moderate shows 84.9% and severe shows 15.09%, therefore it’s understood that moderate was common stage of dyspnea that comes as hospital cases for AECOPD