PS-C06-8: CONCOMITANT HYPERTENSION INFLUENCES CASPASE-8 LEVELS IN COPD PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with hypertension (HTN) having leading places, contributing to higher hospitalization and mortality rates. Oxidative stress, chronic hypoxia and hypoxemia induce systemic inflammation, leading to apoptosis development. Active apoptosis processes lead to forced violations in respiratory tract and influence the course of COPD. To the best of our knowledge, little data is available on assessment of caspase-8 (Cas-8) activity in hypertensive COPD patients. Aim: To investigate association of Cas-8 levels in COPD patients depending on presence of concomitant hypertension. Methods: 93 COPD matched by gender and age patients were enrolled to the study: 47 non-hypertensive (62.0 [52.3; 65.8] years; 29.8% females) in main group and 46 hypertensive (60.0 [58.0; 62.8] years; 37.0% females) in comparison group. COPD and HTD diagnosis was made according to respective GOLD and ESC guidelines. Spirometry was used to assess FEV1/FVC ratio. Cas-8 was assessed by ELISA. Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the main group was 142.5 [140.0; 150.0] mm Hg. and 85.0 [80.0; 90.0] mm. Hg respectively; and 120.0 [115.0; 120.0] mm Hg. and 80.0 [75.0; 80.0] mm Hg. Hypertensive COPD patients showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher Cas-8 levels than non-hypertensive: respectively: 3.7 [3.5; 3.8] ng/ml vs. 3.3 [2.8; 3.7] ng/ml. While FEV1/FVC ratio was significantly higher in the COPD only group than in COPD+HTN patients: 73.0 [71.0; 77.0] % vs. 72.0 [69.0; 75.0] %, p = 0.014. Increase in Cas-8 levels was significantly (p < 0,001) associated with presence of HTN in univariate analysis: 0.406 [95.0% CI 0.225–0.578] ng/ml. In adjusted (for age, gender and FEV1/FVC ratio) model presence of concomitant HTN was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with increase in Cas-8 levels for 0.306 [95.0% CI 0.128–0,484] ng/ml. Conclusion: Concomitant hypertension can aggravate apoptosis in COPD patients, which leads to worsening of the course of the diseases. Our study showed significant association of increased Cas-8 levels with the presence of hypertension in both non-adjusted and adjusted linear models.