Abstract

Objective: To determine prevalence of mild to severe cognitive impairment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Methodology: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out at a pulmonology clinic FRPMC from May to November 2023. It included 67 patients of COPD, age 25 to 65 years. Patient’s demographic data was recorded and COPD grouping was done by using ABE assessment tool, which includes GOLD and modified medical research council grades. Cognitive impairment was screened via MOCA scale.
Results: Out of 67 patients 12 were female and rest were male. Average age was 49+_10 year. Patients with higher age group, illiterate or previous exposure to coal or wood had cognitive impairment. We found that 25 patients had normal cognition whereas 22 (32.84%) had mild, 16 (23.88%) moderate and 4 (5.97%) had severe impairment. Most patients having COPD Group E had mild to severe cognitive impairment.
Conclusion: Cognitive impairment was associated with COPD, especially in patients with higher age and moderate to severe disease according to GOLD grades and patient with exacerbation of COPD. Early detection of cognitive impairment is important because it may have physical, social and psychomotor consequences.

Key words: Cognitive impairment, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Montreal cognitive assessment.