A comorbid condition is a disease, or some other condition associated with a patient’s primary disease process. In the case of patients with lung disease, there are often one and usually more than one comorbid condition which seriously affects the patient’s symptoms and can make it much more difficult to deal with their lung problem.
The number of comorbid conditions that we see in patients with lung disease include: cardiovascular disease which is actually the primary driver of mortality in patients with COPD, osteoporosis which is often underappreciated, depression and anxiety which often are not recognized as crucial factors that need to be addressed in patients with COPD, obesity can worsen symptoms as can malnutrition and muscle wasting, GERD can often be the source of frequent exacerbations and lung infections, obstructive sleep apnea which may be present in 50% of COPD patients and can lead to a worse prognosis.
This list of comorbidities is not complete and many other conditions, some serious and some not, impact the quality of life and symptoms of patients with COPD. Physicians dealing with COPD patients must be aware of the influence these associated problems not only have on their patients’ symptoms and quality of life but their long-term prognosis as well. As a patient it is important to tell your lung doctor about all of the medical or surgical conditions you have had in the past or are still dealing with. You also need to realize how these comorbidities influence your overall treatment.
