Abstract
Background and Aims: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent in the Nepalese population. It is associated with significant extrapulmonary effects among which cardiovascular complications are most common. Echocardiography evaluation mainly focused on effects on the right heart function is a salient tool to evaluate the presence of degree of pulmonary hypertension and also identify those group of patients who need more early aggressive therapy for the underling lung disease . We aimed to prospectively study the patients with diagnosed COPD with echocardiogram for evaluating the right heart.Methods: An observational, cross sectional study was done on 50 patients with COPD who were admitted at Bir Hospital and underwent echocardiographic evaluation from Dec 2015 –Dec 2016. All echocardiogaphic parameters focused on right heart and its function were assessed .Results: Out of total 50 COPD patients studied, majority of them were female (32 patients. 64%). The mean age group of the studied patients was 60.9 ±11.4 years. Pulmonary hypertension defined as sPAP>30 mmHg was evident in all of the patients ; with 30 patients (60% ), 14 (28 %) and 6(12 %) patients having severe, moderate and mild pulmonary hypertension respectively. RV dysfunction was evident with reduced average TAPSE values (1.59± 0.38 cm) and elevated RIMP values (0.58±0.16).Conclusion: Majority of COPD patients had evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiogram can be a helpful tool to assess early changes on the right heart size and function in patients with COPD and also monitor these patients for rapid progression of the illness.Nepalese Heart Journal 2017; Vol 14(2), 9-12
Highlights
Background and AimsChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent in the Nepalese population
Forty seven patients (90%) studied had significant ECG abnormality out of which P ‘pulmonale was the most common (45 patients, 90 %) while atrial arrhythmias in the form of Atrial fibrillation (AF) or Multifocal tachycardia (MAT) (6 patients, 12 %) being the least common finding . (Table 1)
The true prevalence of Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in COPD is unknown, an elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure is reported to occur in 20%–90% of patients when measured by right heart catheterization
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent in the Nepalese population. It is associated with significant extrapulmonary effects among which cardiovascular complications are most common. Echocardiography evaluation mainly focused on effects on the right heart function is a salient tool to evaluate the presence of degree of pulmonary hypertension and identify those group of patients who need more early aggressive therapy for the underling lung disease. We aimed to prospectively study the patients with diagnosed COPD with echocardiogram for evaluating the right heart. Echocardiogram can be a helpful tool to assess early changes on the right heart size and function in patients with COPD and monitor these patients for rapid progression of the illness
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
