Prevalence and risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Dhaka city population

This prospective, cross-sectional population based survey was carried out in the Respiratory wing, Department of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh to see the prevalence and risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Dhaka City Population in Bangladesh. The total sample size was 900 at the age of 35 years or above. Spirometry was performed according to ATS criteria. Data related to smoking history, respiratory symptoms, co-morbidities, physical examination findings, spirometry values and other investigation reports were noted in the questionnaire. The mean age was 45.26±10.08 (Mean±SD); of them, male 76.9% and female 23.1%. Among them, smoker was 481 with a smoking duration of 10 pack year 27.8% and non smoker were 419. Spirometric screening yielded diagnosis of COPD in 11.4% (103/900). Using operational severity criteria adopted from Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) mild, moderate, severe and very severe COPD were found in 42.7%, 27.2%, 20.4% and 9.7% respectively. The hall mark symptom of COPD exertional dyspnea was seen in 10.4%, non-specific symptoms like cough and sputum were found in 40% and 19% respectively. Physical sign like vesicular breath sound with prolonged expiration and ronchi were found in 6.1% and 4.1% respectively. In this study, age (Mean±SD in years) (57.34±11.74), Sex (Male: Female = 4:1), low BMI (Mean±SD) (21.56±3.83), Smoker 56(20.2%) and low Socio-economic condition 54(13.6%) found to be risk factor of COPD. Regression analysis revealed that age (p<0.001), sex (p<0.001), smoking duration (p<0.001) and low socioeconomic condition (p<0.05) as independent risk factors for COPD.