Volume :
5
Issue :
2
Abstract :
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a slowly progressive disease which is characterized by airflow obstruction mainly caused by bronchitis. Our study focuses on the scenario of COPD in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A cross sectional, prospective, observational & spontaneous reported study was carried out on all patients with COPD belonging to either gender and all ages, who were receiving treatment during study, from National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH), Dhaka, Bangladesh. A case report form (CRF) comprised of questions was prepared for this study. The data obtained from this study were entered into computer and were analysed and presented by using GraphPad Prism. During the study, a total of 583 COPD patients were enrolled. Most of the COPD patients were within the age of 46-75 years and 98.0% of them were male. Two-third of the total COPD patients were advised to perform multiple diagnostic tests and 78% of the patients were diagnosed by the sputum test to determine the presence of microorganism and 83% patients were not diagnosed based on spirometry. Most of the COPD patients in this study were found to suffer from chest tightness (72%), shortness of breath (100%), shortness of breath during exercise (97%) and they perceived that when cold attacks it goes to the chest of the patients (97%). Our findings have revealed that 37% patients were taking beta agonist medication (salbutamol), 29% patients were taking long-acting anti-cholinergic medication, 100% of patients were using a combination inhaler, 61% patients were using inhaled corticosteroids, 38% patients were taking prednisone, and 92% patients received three or more antibiotics. Doctors should be more aware to diagnose COPD patients by the application of spirometry test and frequent prescription of antibiotics should be taken into account to preclude the chance of developing antibiotic resistance.