Can BODE index identify right ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients?

Abstract

COPD is a systemic disease with multiple complications. Right heart failure is one such complication which contributes to morbidity and mortality in COPD patients. Early identification of this complication can help tailor the treatment to improve outcomes. But it9s diagnosis requires resources such as echocardiography and trained personnel. A simple tool for identification of this complication in resource limited setting would therefore be helpful. Will BODE index which is used to predict outcomes in COPD patients be of any use here? Aim: To study whether there is any correlation between BODE index and Right ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients. Meterials and Methods: It is a study conducted on 65 patients diagnosed as COPD according to GOLD guidelines from January 2014 to December 2014. After history and clinical examination, BODE index (body mass index, airway obstruction, dyspnea scale, exersice capacity) was calculated in each patient and compared with their respective echocardiography findings. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (ρ) and coefficient of significance (p) were calculated for the above relation. Data analysis and validation was carried out using shapiro9s wilk test, independent 9t9 test, mann whitney U test, Kruskal wallis H test, chi square test. Results: There was a significant correlation between BODE index and right ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients with ρ value of 0.599 and p value of 0.001. Conclusion: BODE index which is actually used to predict long term outcomes in COPD patients can be used to identify right ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients. Hence in resource limited settings this simple and easily performable tool might be useful for tailoring the treatment.