Assessment of Some Aspects of Cardiovascular Function Status in Male Patients with Stable COPD

Abstract

Background: COPD is a preventable and treatable disease with some important extra pulmonary effects, which may contribute to the severity of this disease. Among these extra pulmonary ailments cardiovascular disorders are noteworthy. Although its silent involvement is known, but little attention paid to this major comorbidity while treating COPD patients. Objective: to assess rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) of blood flow to observe the cardiovascular function status in stable COPD patients Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka during 2010. For this purpose 60 (sixty) male, smoker (5 to 10 pack years) patients of stable COPD (FEV 1 /FVC% <0.70; FEV 1 e" 80%; without any exacerbation for last 4 weeks) were randomly selected from the Out Patient Department of the Department of Cardiology, BSMMU and also from a private clinic in Dhaka city. On the basis of spirometric findings, 30 mild (group B 1 ) and 30 moderate stage (group B 2 ) of COPD patients with age 35-45 years were included in the study. In addition, 30 age and BMI matched apparently healthy male persons were studied as control (group A). For assessment of cardiovascular function, pulse rate, SBP and PSV were measured. PSV of blood flow in distal part of the right brachial artery in arm was measured by Color Doppler ultrasonography. For statistical analysis, Independent sample t-test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient test were used. Results: Significantly (p<0.001) higher mean pulse rate and SBP were observed in moderate stage of COPD patients than those of control and mild stage. PSV was significantly (p<0.001) higher in both stages than those of the control as well as in moderate stage to that of the mild COPD. In addition, SBP and PSV were negatively correlated with FEV 1 in moderate stage which was statistically significant (p<0.01). Conclusion: This study suggests that, cardiovascular status may be altered in stable COPD and this alteration is inversely related to the severity of the disease.