Respiratory disorders in females of Delhi

A retrospective study was carried out on 1532 female patients attending chest clinic, over a period of 13 years. The incidence of smoking was found to be 6.6%, maximum incidence (17%) being in those above 60 years of age. High incidence (66%) of exposure to kitchen smoke was observed in women above 40 years of age. Chronic bronchitis was found to be the commonest illness followed by bronchial asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchiectasis. Bronchial asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis were common in younger age groups, while above the age of 40 years 42% patients had chronic bronchitis and 27% had bronchiectasis. Incidence of smoking and exposure to kitchen smoke was also high in this subset. This shows that they may be important contributory factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in females. Evidence of chronic cor pulmonale was found in 130 (8.5%) patients. Maximum incidence (28%) was seen in the age group of above 60 years. Chronic bronchitis with or without emphysema turned out to be the commonest cause of cor pulmonale, followed by bronchiectasis, pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchial asthma.