A comprehensive evaluation of respiratory status in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze a potential role of lung function for a comprehensive evaluation of respiratory system in patients undergoing the coronary artery bypass surgery. Methods. The study involved 662 patients. Spirometry, body plethysmography and the singlebreath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were measured in all patients. All patients were divided into three groups according to the results of pulmonary function tests: patients with a known history of respiratory disease (n = 74; 11.2%), patients with newly diagnosed respiratory disease (n = 222; 33.5%) and patients without any respiratory disorders (n = 366, 55.3%). An integral index was calculated which characterizes the comprehensive pulmonary function evaluation based on weight coefficients. Results . Bronchial obstruction parameters, forced and slow vital capacities and diffusing capacity of alveolarcapillary membrane greatly contributed to the pulmonary function integral index. This index did not differed significantly between patients with newly and previously diagnosed respiratory diseases; however, it was significantly higher in patients without any respiratory disorders. Conclusion. A correlation analysis of the pulmonary function integral index, clinical and demographic data confirmed an inverse relationship between the pulmonary function integral index and duration of coronary artery disease, hypertension, number of previous myocardial infarctions, functional class of angina pectoris and congestive heart failure along with generally accepted factors affecting pulmonary function such as age, body mass index, smoking, and industrial xenobiotics.