Clinical Study of Pleural Effusion in Elderly

Abstract

Abstract Background: The usual sign of a wide variety of diseases is the formation of fluid in the pleural region. Pleural effusion (PE) is a prevalent condition in regular medical practice and has a wide range of underlying medical conditions as causes. The prognosis and treatment of PE can be greatly affected by the cause; hence, accurate differential diagnostic classification is essential. Materials and Methods: This prospective and observational clinical study was conducted between August 2013 and February 2015. A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study. The clinical history and physical examination were done. For radiological evaluation X-ray of the chest was taken, and if necessary, ultrasonography and computed tomography were done. Thoracocentesis was performed after obtaining informed consent, and all necessary investigations were done. Results: Out of 511 patients, 100 patients were included in the study who were 60 or above 60 years of age. The most common comorbid condition was hypertension, which was found to be (32.81%) in males and (30.56%) in females. In exudative PE, tuberculosis (TB) was mostly found in males (53.13%) and malignancy in females (25%), while in transudative PE, the cardiac cause was mostly found in females (30.56%) as compared to males (15.63%). Conclusion: In India incidence of tubercular PE is more common than malignant. Accurate diagnosis and treatment can prevent disease progression and complications.