CARDIOPULMONARY COMORBIDITY: EFFECTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES ON THE COURSE OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AND NEWLY DIAGNOSED TUBERCULOSIS
The purpose of the study was to track the frequency of occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis, and tuberculosis in combination with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A comparative retrospective study comprised a total of 232 patients including 116 patients with TB and 116 patients with TB in combination with COPD. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were diagnosed in 28 people (24.1%) in group 1. Cardiovascular disease occurred statistically significantly more frequently in women: 25 women (22%) versus 3 men (2%) (p<0.05). In group 2, 44 individuals (37.9%) had CVD. Hypertension was found in 21 individuals (17%); ischemic heart disease was observed in 12 individuals (10%); and chronic heart failure was found in 11 people (9%). In this group, CVD incidence rate was significantly higher in men (34%) than in women (3%) (p<0.05). In tuberculosis group, lower incidence rate and later peak (from 61 to 90 years) of CVD development were observed which was possibly due to less exposure to risk factors (smoking, etc.). In group 1, 32 individuals (27.6%) were smokers and, among then, five patients (15.6%) had CVD. In group 2, 111 (95.1%) individuals were smokers and 40 (36%) of them had CVD (<sup>2</sup>=8.928; р=0.05). In group 1, 13 (11.2%) individuals showed alcohol abuse; one patient (7.7%) had CVD. In group 2, 71 (62.1%) individuals showed alcohol abuse; 22 patients (31%) had CVD (<sup>2</sup>=6,446; p=0.05). Mortality rates were 3.4% in tuberculosis group and 15.5% in group of TB and COPD; half of deceased individuals had history of cardiovascular events (<sup>2</sup>=6.465; p=0.005). The lack of treatment efficacy in the presence of CVD was documented in 37% and 33% (<sup>2</sup>=3,769; p=0.165), respectively. The presence of COPD and tuberculosis increase the frequency of CVD; combination of CVD with COPD and tuberculosis significantly aggravate the course of the main and the concomitant disease.