Endoscopic findings in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTRODUCTION: Although the frequency of reflux esophagitis is increasing in patiens with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is limited data on how other mucosal pathologies are affected. Therefore, we aimed to examine the various endoscopic findings in patiens with COPD for the first time in the literature.
METHODS: 46 patients (consisting of 22 women=47.8%) with diagnosis COPD who had dyspeptic complaints and underwent upper GI endoscopy for these complaints (COPD group), and 50 patients (consisting of 28 women=56%) with functional dyspepsia were included in the study as the control group (Non-COPD group). Data on demographic characteristics, taken treatments, smoking, alcohol use, endoscopic findings, histopathological findings were documented. Endoscopic findings were compared between COPD and non-COPD groups. In addition, the effect of disease severity on mucosa was investigated.
RESULTS: In the comparison, smoking was statistically significantly higher in COPD group than Non-COPD-group. There was no significant difference in terms of other characteristics (age, gender, body mass index, drug and alcohol use) and presence of helicobacter pylori (HP) between groups(p>0.05). When groups are compared in terms of endoscopic findings, the frequency of gastritis, esophagitis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and barret metaplasia was significantly higher in the COPD group (p<0.05). In addition, as the severity of COPD increased, it was observed that pathological mucosal findings increased significantly(p<0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Since pathological mucosal findings are significantly higher in patients with COPD, it is important to determine the current situation by performing upper-gastrointestinal system endoscopy and to treat HP infection and pathological endoscopic findings in COPD-patients with dyspeptic complaints.