Pulmonary hypertension in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Summary of the doctoral thesis in medical sciences: 321.11 – Gerontology and geriatrics

Abstract

The relevance and importance of the issue being investigated. According to the GOLD 2023 report, COPD remains a rising public health problem with a significant socio-economic burden. The condition is the 3th leading cause of death in the world, the 7th and 10th leading cause of disability in high- and low- or middle-income countries, respectively, and a leading worldwide cause of hospitalization [1]. According to the data of the National Agency for Public Health from Republic of Moldova the total incidence of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema in 2022 was 15.4 cases per 10.000 inhabitants. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema in 2022 constituted 159.3 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. COPD mortality accounts for about 6% of all deaths worldwide. The disease has now become the third leading cause of death worldwide due to continued exposure to COPD risk factors and demographical ageing of the population. However, the impact of COPD on health can be underestimated, as about 50% of COPD mortality is caused by non-respiratory diseases, and COPD may increase the risk of death due to other comorbidities [1, 2]. [...]