Risk Factors Of Acute Exacerbation Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is regarded as one of the most chronic illnesses affecting the elderly patients globally. Exacerbations of COPD are frequent and have significant clinical and financial ramifications. Aim: to determine risk factors of acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Study design: A descriptive research design used to collect data of the research. Setting: This research was conducted in chest intensive care unit at Assiut University Hospital. Patients: A convenient patients of all available patients (male and female) diagnosed with Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with age grouped ranged from 20 - 60 years within of nine months in the Assiut university hospital’s chest intensive care unit. Tools: Two tools were used to gather study data; Tool I: patient’s assessment tool, Tool II: Risk factors assessment tool. Results: The study showed that the majority of the patients under study were male, and their ages ranged from 45 to 60 years. The main risk factors for COPD were smoking (83.3%), high blood pressure (83.3%), cardiac disorders (68.3%) and patients had diabetes mellitus (60%). Conclusion: the study showed that major risk factors among chest intensive care unit patients with COPD were smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and patients with cardiac disorders. Recommendations: Create a training program and refresher courses for health caregivers regarding risk factors of complications among patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.