Abstract
Objective: To determine the frequency of undiagnosed ischemic heart disease in patients admitted with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).
Methodology: This cross sectional study was done from 1 January to 31 December 2015 at Pulmonolgy Department of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar on patients admitted with acute exacerbation of COPD. Ischemic heart disease was diagnosed if a patient was found to have unstable angina, myocardial infarction or had echo findings suggestive of ischemic cardiomyopathy or regional wall abnormality. Data was gathered on a structured proforma where demographics, history of common risk factors and presence of ischemic heart disease and it's further type was documented. Data entered on SPSS version 19 and analyzed.
Results: A total of 412 patients were admitted with the diagnosis of AECOPD. Mean age of the study sample was 61.6 +/- 12.5 years, with 41% males. Frequency of undiagnosed ischemic heart disease was found to be 18%. Among them 47% had unstable angina, 23% had myocardial infarction and 30% had ischemic cardiomyopathy on echocardiography.
Conclusion: One in five patients admitted with AECOPD had undiagnosed ischemic heart disease documented as ACS or ischaemic cardiomyopathy.