Kronik Obstrüktif Akciğer Hastalığı COVID-19 Enfeksiyonunun Şiddetini Etkiliyor mu?

Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has a high risk of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This risk increases with the presence of other comorbid diseases. In our study, it was aimed to determine the severity of COVID-19 in patients with COPD. Material and Methods: The study was performed as a retrospective case-control study in two centers that participated in the study between April 01, 2020 and October 01, 2020. COVID-19 rtRT-PCR positive patients with prior COPD diagnosis were included in the case group. Patients with positive COVID-19 rtRT-PCR and who did not have a COPD history were included in the control group. Results: A total of 444 patients with 222 COPD were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was similar in both groups. Male gender ratio was high in patients with COPD (p=0,009). Patients with COPD had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores, and in this group, hypertension and coronary artery disease were among the accompanying comorbid diseases (p<0,05). The elapsed time between the onset of symptoms and admission to the hospital was shorter in patients with COPD (p<0.001). Fever, myalgia and fatigue were more common in patients in the control group at the time of admission to the hospital, while shortness of breath was more common in patients with COPD. Intensive care need of patients with COPD was 1.88 times higher than the control group (p=0,026). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of prognosis.  Conclusion: In the patient group with COPD, presence of COVID-19 disease increases the need for intensive care and the clinical course of these patients may be more severe. It should be kept in mind that COPD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 may need more intensive care and early supportive treatment may contribute to the prognosis.