European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the major
causes of disability and fatality in the world along with posing a huge social and
economic burden. World health organization estimated that COPD had been the cause
of death in more than 3 million people around the globe. COPD is associated with
significant and progressive irreversible airflow obstruction characterized by narrowing
of the airways. Tobacco smoking has been observed to be the most common risk factor
for COPD, with indoor air pollution, occupational dusts and chemicals adding on to the
list of risk factors. On the other hand, Vitamin D been observed to play an important
role in many of the biological processes including the respiratory process wherein,
higher vitamin D concentrations have been associated with better lung function. Owing
to the immune and anti-inflammatory functions on respiratory epithelium, role in lung
tissue remodeling of vitamin D, and an observed deficiency of Vitamin D in patients
with COPD, there could be a potential relationship between the two. Aims and
Objectives- To evaluate the mean Vitamin D level according to COPD disease severity
category as per GOLD criteria, to examine the relationship between serum Vitamin D
levels and FEV1 at a sub-population level by categorizing the subjects based on gender,
age, smoking status and BMI.

COPD is characterized by chronic airflow obstruction secondary to chronic bronchitis and/or
emphysema. COPD patients reportedly have significant degree of nocturnal sleep symptoms.
Some of the sleep related breathing disorders seen in patients with COPD include Obstructive
sleep apnea, sleep related hypoventilation and REM related nocturnal oxygen desaturation
syndrome. It is a longitudinal observational study. 60 patients both males and females above
the age of 40yrs having COPD were randomly selected and distributed into mild moderate
and severe grades based in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio following pulmonary function testing.
It is found that out of 60 patients following sleep study, proportion of patients with abnormal
Apnea hypopnea index were more among grade 2,3,4 (chi square 26.33, p-0.0001) <0.001
which was statistically significant. Also proportion of patients with abnormal Oxygen
desaturation index was more as the severity of grading of COPD increased. Early CPAP
treatment helped to reduce the severity of sleep disorders and the reduction of AHI and ODI
indices.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease characterised by obstruction in the airflow which interferes with the normal breathing pattern. The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) announced COPD will be the third common cause for death by 2020. The objective of study is to assess the level of awareness of risk factors of COPD and its complications among college students. A Self structured questionnaire was circulated among 100 participants within university. This survey was done online using google forms link. The questions were designed in order to assess the knowledge about COPD and its risk factors. The results and responses were collected and analysed by using SPSS software. The findings from the study were represented in pie charts. In our study about 85% of individuals were aware that COPD is a respiratory disorder. 52% of participants know the difference between COPD and asthma. 58% of individuals were well aware of the signs and symptoms of COPD. From the survey conducted, the awareness and knowledge about risk factors and complications of COPD is found to be moderate. Further future studies and management programs may be conducted to create more awareness to the individuals.