A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY; GERD AS A RISK FACTOR OF ACUTE EXACERBATION OF COPD

Objective: The study is based to assess the prevalence of the GERD in the patients of COPD. Design and place: It is cross-sectional study done at the department of Pulmonology in the Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Duration: July 2016-Feb 2017 Methodology: 103 patients were enrolled in the study fulfilling the inclusion criteria and established diagnosis of the disease i.e. patients with age more than 40, with >20 pack years of smoking history and FEV/FVC < 0.7 Results: In the study 35% of patients were in the age ranging 40-55 years and 65% were of age >55 years. The mean age of patients was 66.87±8.71, out of 103 patients 88% were males and 12% were females. Conclusion: It was concluded from the study results that 42% of the patients of COPD suffered from the GERD as well. So, in order to put a control on the Exacerbations of the disease surveillance of the GERD should be done of the each and every COPD patient. Key Words: Exacerbation, COPD, Disease Surveillance, Pulmonary, Vagal Nerve stimulation