[Mortality and factors affecting mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
BACKGROUND
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Mortality rates vary between 15-54% in investigations. There is a limited number of studies evaluating factors associated with mortality and morbidity in our country. The aim of this study is to detect the mortality rate and to investigate the factors affecting mortality.


METHODS
427 patients with COPD between July 2004-November 2005 were evaluated.


RESULTS
Mortality rate was found to be 17.3% at the end of four years. Deaths were most frequently due to pulmonary causes and secondly cardiac factors. Deaths due to lung cancer were 31%. Age, amount of smoking, COPD stage, FEV1 (L), FEV1% predicted, FVC (L), FVC% predicted, FEV1/FVC, PEF (L/sn), PEF% predicted, FEF25-75 (L) and FEF25-75% predicted values, presence of comorbid diseases, Modified Borg Scale and dyspnea severity according to MMRC, six minutes walking test and oxygen saturation following the test, BODE index, SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, physical function, physical role, emotional role and energy scores parameters and all parameters of SGRQ questionnaire were found to be significantly associated with mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
COPD is a disease with high mortality and is one of the problems related with the public health. In the follow up of COPD, the usage of other measures like exercise capacity and quality of life besides spirometric measures should be encouraged. To make the patients and cases in the risky group conscious of their disease is important since the risk factors are preventable. This method may also contribute to the prevention of comorbid diseases.
Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
Kemal Can
KC
Tertemiz
Nuray
N
Kömüs
Hülya
H
Ellidokuz
Can
C
Sevinç
Arif Hikmet
AH
Cımrın
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology