Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: COPD is projected to become the third leading cause of death by 2030. Tobacco smoke is the biggest risk factor for COPD in developed countries. In a developing country like India, the prevalence of smoking is low in women (3.6% in women and 26.25% in men), however the prevalence of COPD is equal in men and women (2-22% in men and 1.2- 19% in women). The biggest risk factor for COPD in women is exposure to biomass fuel smoke but, the ‘awareness of COPD in non-smoking women’ is low among treating physicians and hence women with COPD symptoms are diagnosed late leading to increased mortality and morbidity. Aims &
Objective: To evaluate any differences in clinical presentations so that these differences can help in early detection of COPD in women.
Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study in a respiratory disease hospital outpatient clinic. Sampling method was a continuous convenience sampling. We included 200 stable COPD patients both men and women. Data was collected on clinical characteristics of cough, wheeze and breathlessness, lung function parameters of FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC, BMI and exercise capacity as assessed by six-minute walk distance. These parameters were then compared in men and women.
Results: 57.5% were men and 42.5% were women. 99% of the men with COPD were smokers, while 2.4% of the women were smokers only (P=0.001). 0.86% of men reported exposure to biomass smoke while 58.8% of women were exposed to biomass smoke (P=0.001). Both presented with cough, sputum, dyspnoea, similar lung functions and BMI. Women reported significant dyspnoea (P=0.04) and had lower exercise capacity as compared to men (P=0.001). Conclusion: Women with COPD reported higher exposure to biomass smoke and had similar clinical presentations of COPD as men except for dyspnoea and exercise capacity.