CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PULMONARY FUNCTION PARAMETERS: A HOSPITAL-BASED OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous chronic respiratory disorder characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. Clinical manifestations and structural abnormalities on chest imaging vary substantially among affected individuals, and their relationship with spirometric impairment may provide useful information for disease characterization. The present study evaluated the clinical and radiological profile of patients with COPD and examined associations between imaging findings and pulmonary function parameters in a tertiary-care hospital.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional observational study included 150 patients with COPD evaluated in the Department of Pulmonology during January 2024–December 2024. Demographic characteristics, smoking and environmental exposure history, symptoms, exacerbation history, comorbidities, radiological findings, and spirometric parameters were recorded. Pulmonary function was assessed using FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, and percentage-predicted values. Patients were categorized according to spirometric GOLD grades. Continuous variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation and categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Associations were assessed using independent-samples t-test, chi-square test, and Pearson correlation, as appropriate.

Results: The mean age was 60.56 ± 8.89 years, and 124 (82.7%) participants were men. Current smokers constituted 79 (52.7%) patients and former smokers 57 (38.0%), with mean smoking exposure of 36.72 ± 20.45 pack-years. Dyspnea was present in 129 (86.0%), chronic cough in 117 (78.0%), and sputum production in 93 (62.0%). Hyperinflation was the most frequent radiological abnormality, observed in 90 (60.0%) patients, followed by emphysematous changes in 70 (46.7%), flattened diaphragm in 68 (45.3%), and airway-wall thickening in 60 (40.0%). Mean FEV1 was 1.69 ± 0.62 L and mean FEV1/FVC ratio was 0.572 ± 0.059. Radiological abnormalities were associated with significantly lower FEV1 percentage predicted values: hyperinflation (56.15% vs 70.84%, p<0.001), emphysematous changes (54.71% vs 68.43%, p<0.001), flattened diaphragm (55.73% vs 67.25%, p<0.001), and airway-wall thickening (55.30% vs 66.51%, p=0.001).

Conclusion: In this cohort, COPD was predominantly observed in older men with substantial tobacco exposure and was commonly associated with dyspnea and chronic cough. Hyperinflation and emphysematous changes were frequent imaging findings and showed significant associations with impaired spirometric function. Integrating clinical assessment, chest imaging, and pulmonary function testing may improve phenotypic characterization and severity assessment of COPD.