الفهرس 
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Abstract
Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases. COPD prevalence, morbidity, and mortality vary across countries and across different groups within the same country. In Egypt, COPD is a rising significant health problem; however, information on its prevalence, morbidity, and mortality is still lacking.
Aim
The aim of this work is to study COPD patients in Damietta chest hospital as regard: Demographic characteristic of the patients, clinical characteristic of the patients and Available prescription pattern.
Patients and methods
This study included all COPD patients either referred to outpatient chest clinic or admitted to the hospital in the period from November 2016 to November 2017. Diagnosis of COPD was done according to Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guideline, 2017.
All patients were subjected to:
1. Full medical history and examination.
2. Pre and post bronchodilator spirometric study according to GOLD (2017). In case of patients who can’t perform spirometry they were included only if there were previous spirometric documents available.
3. Chest X-Ray: Chest X-Ray with PA view to exclude any other Chest diseases.
4. Questionnaire to detect epidemiology, demographic, clinical characteristic of the patients and available prescription pattern
Results
One hundred forty two patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of COPD based on spirometry and symptoms according to Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2017 were included in the current study.
During the period of the study another 112 recruited patients failed to fulfill the diagnostic criteria of COPD according to Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2017.
These patients were previously misdiagnosed as COPD with documents from previous admission, referring doctors or referring hospitals. Their previous COPD diagnosis was based only on symptomatology and positive history of smoking while spirometeric evaluation were lacking.
Conclusion
COPD develops slowly. Symptoms often worsen over time and can limit your ability to do routine activities. Severe COPD may prevent you from doing even basic activities like walking, cooking, or taking care of yourself.
Most of the time, COPD is diagnosed in middle-aged or older adults. The disease is not contagious, meaning it cannot be passed from person to person.