OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of hypertension and glucose/lipid metabolism induced by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in hospitalized patients and their correlations to age and gender.

METHODSA retrospectively prevalence survey was conducted among the in-patients with COPD treated in General Hospital of PLA, Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Hospital between January 1st, 2000 and March 20th, 2010.

RESULTSA total of 4960 COPD patients were selected, including 3570 male and 1390 female patients with a mean age of 72.2∓10.4 years. Among these patients, hypertension had the highest prevalence (40.3%), followed by diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance (18.8%) and then by hyperlipidemia/fat protein metabolism (6.9%). The prevalence of hyperlipidemia/lipoprotein metabolism in the COPD patients over 80 years old decreased significantly with age. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age. In patients over 50 years old, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in female than in male patients (P<0.05). The prevalence of diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance increased with age in male patients but decreased in female patients aged :80 years (P<0.05). Female patients in 60-69.9 and 70-79.9 years groups had significantly higher incidence of diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance than male patients (P<0.05), but not at older ages. The incidence of hyperlipidemia/lipoprotein metabolism disorder increased with age in both male and female patients aged below 80 years (P<0.05), but in 60-69.9 and 70-79.9 year groups, female patients had a significantly higher incidence than male patients (P<0.05); at the ages :80 years, the incidences was lowered in both women and men without a gender-specific differences (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe data we obtained concerning the prevalence of hypertension and glucose/lipid metabolism disorder, age distribution, and gender characteristics of the COPD patients provide a clear target for secondary prevention of COPD.