Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Kentucky, and precise estimates of the prevalence of this disease and its comorbidities are needed. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of both COPD and its comorbidities and risk differences of COPD comorbidities across Area Development Districts (ADDs) and gender. Methods: The demographic characteristics, prevalence of self- reported COPD and its comorbidities were determined by using data from the 2011 Kentucky Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (KyBRFS). Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for COPD and comorbidities. Results: The overall prevalence of age adjusted COPD was 10.09% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.99, 10.19), 8.85% for men (95% CI 8.76, 8.93), and 10.78% for women (95% CI 10.67, 10.88). Odds ratios for risk of angina or coronary heart disease (CHD), and arthritis among patients with COPD, by sex and ADDs varied significantly (pooled overall OR=3.43, 95% CI 2.70-4.34, heterogeneity p=0.0001) and (pooled overall OR=2.16, 95% CI 1.75-2.67, heterogeneity p=0.0001), respectively. ORs for risk of depression (pooled OR=2.61, 95% CI 1.78-3.70, heterogeneity p=0.028) and hypertension (pooled OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.16-2.42, heterogeneity p=0. 006) only varied significantly in men. Odds ratios for risk of diabetes was not significant across ADDs and gender (pooled overall OR=2.02, 95% CI 1.61-2.53, heterogeneity p=0.709). Conclusion: Gender differences account for the discrepancy in the risk of comorbidities in patients with COPD across Kentucky's Area Development Districts. This should guide public health officials and physicians to create gender-based prevention interventions.
Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; comorbidities; copd; gender; prevalance.