Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) becomes a significant health problem during pilgrimage for Moslems. Data from Indonesian Ministry of Health showed that acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) ranked second in the causes of death of pilgrims in 2008, with mortality proportion of 12.3%. To date, no known publication has reported the proportion and risk factors associated with AECOPD in pilgrims from Indonesia. Objective: To obtain data on the characteristics of pilgrims with COPD and the proportion and risk factors for AECOPD in the pilgrims embarking from Jakarta during hajj year of 2011-2012.
Methods: This is a cohort prospective study using univariate statistical analysis which was conducted in Jakarta Embarkation during pilgrims seasons during hajj year of October-December 2011 and September-November 2012. Results: Ninety-seven COPD patients were identified and subsequently recruited to this study. General characteristics of the subjects were as follows: male (95%), under 60 years of age (54%), low educational status (72%), non-residents in DKI Jakarta (20%), current smokers (54%) and having no co-morbidity (60%). Most of the subjects (98%) were not known to have COPD prior to pilgrim’s health examination; 79% of them had moderate COPD. The proportion of AECOPD during hajj year 2011-2012 was 48%. General characteristics of the subjects with AECOPD were as follows: elderly (53%), non-current smokers ( 53%), having co-morbidity (55%), having suffered from acute respiratory tract infection (98%) and of moderate COPD severity (83%).
Conclusion: This study found high proportion of AECOPD in the pilgrims embarking from Jakarta during hajj year 2011-2012. Acute respiratory tract infections were commonly found in the pilgrims with AECOPD.
Key words: Acute exacerbation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Hajj, pilgrims.