Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as a Systemic Disease: A Multiparametric Approach

Abstract

The World Health Organization predicts that Chronic Obstructive Bronchopathy Disease (COPD) will become the third leading cause of death in 2030 worldwide. COPD, is a ‘preventable and treatable’ pathology, characterized by an air flow limitation that is not entirely reversible. Flow restriction is generally progressive and associated with a pulmonary inflammatory response correlated with major risk factors such as tobacco smoke, followed by occupation and air pollution. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the correlations between the entity of bronchopulmonary disease and the inflammation index (CRP), antioxidant potential (CoQ10) and the cardiac overload index (NT-proBNP). To develop this research protocol, 26 patients with different severity of COPD (BODE Index) were enrolled. The experimental results show a direct correlation between antioxidant potential and oxygen content in the blood, an inverse correlation between cardiac overload and distance traveled in meters (6-minute walking test). Finally, all patients showed a systemic inflammatory state directly proportional to the state of blood oxygenation. Although the study included a limited number of patients and lacked a control group, it was possible to identify an ideal model of patients with COPD from which to draw valid conclusions.