Spectrum of Respiratory Symptoms and Comorbid Conditions among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation and variable respiratory symptoms. Respiratory symptom burden and comorbid conditions substantially influence functional status and clinical outcomes. Aim of the study: To assess the spectrum of respiratory symptoms and comorbid conditions and identify factors associated with respiratory symptom burden among patients with COPD. Methods & Materials: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 250 patients with COPD attending the Internal Medicine Service of a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh. Sociodemographic and clinical information, respiratory symptoms, COPD duration, smoking status, oxygen saturation, exacerbation frequency, and comorbidities were recorded. Symptom burden was categorized as low or moderate/high. Associations were assessed using chi-square/Fisher's exact tests and independent-samples t-test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Result: The mean age was 61.8±11.7 years, and 72.4% of participants were male. Dyspnea was the predominant respiratory symptom (36.4%), followed by chronic cough (22.8%) and sputum production (17.2%). Moderate/high symptom burden was present in 80.8% of patients, while moderate COPD was the most common severity category (41.6%). Hypertension (27.6%), diabetes mellitus (16.0%), and ischemic heart disease (12.8%) were the leading comorbidities. Symptom burden was significantly associated with age, gender, and smoking status (p<0.001, p=0.027, and p=0.008, respectively). Patients with moderate/high burden had longer COPD duration, higher respiratory rate, lower SpO₂, and more frequent exacerbations (all p<0.001), whereas BMI and predominant comorbidity were not significantly associated. Conclusion: COPD was associated with substantial respiratory symptom burden, particularly dyspnea. Older age, female sex, smoking, longer disease duration, impaired oxygenation, and frequent exacerbations were important correlates. Comprehensive symptom assessment and targeted management may improve COPD care and outcomes.