Difference of body surface temperature in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with different degree of airflow limitation

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the changes of body surface temperature of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and explore its clinical significance for the progression of COPD. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore the correlation between body surface temperature and disease severity in COPD patients. MethodsFrom May 2015 to May 2016, the patients who were diagnosed as COPD at stable phase (n = 148) were enrolled in this study. The subjects in control group (n = 49) were healthy people. The patients’ general condition modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale and the COPD assessment test (CAT) score were recorded, and pulmonary function of patients was determined. Back average temperature measurement was made using a thermal infrared imager (DT-9875, CEM, China). ResultsPatients in the COPD group had significantly lower mean temperatures of the back than those in the control group. The mean temperature of the back presented a decreased tendency with the aggravation of airflow limitation. Correlation analysis revealed that in the COPD group, the back temperature was negatively correlated with smoking index and mMRC score. FEV1%, FVC% and FEV1/FVC were positively correlated with pulmonary function. Smoking showed a tendency to lower the back temperature of COPD patients. ConclusionsThis study preliminarily suggested that the body surface temperature of COPD patients decreased compared with that of healthy people, which may be associated with the dysfunction of autonomic nerve, increased basal metabolic rate, metabolic syndrome and peripheral nerve injury in COPD patients.