Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem. It is a complex disease characterised by chronic inflammation in the airways by noxious particles. Episodes of increased symptoms called as acute exacerbations are associated with accelerated decline in the lung function. Blood cultures to find out the causative organism in these cases are time consuming. Complete Blood Count (CBC) parameters like Total leukocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count, Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) are found to be related with COPD and its acute exacerbation. An observational hospital based descriptive study was conducted for a period of six months in the Department of Pathology and Medicine of a tertiary care centre. A total of 144 patients of COPD with acute exacerbation (AECOPD) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 70.47 ± 9.49 years with female preponderance (61.1%). Though mean hemoglobin level (13.25 ± 2.70 gm %), (95% CI 12.80-13.69) showed statistical significance, other CBC parameters had no obvious difference among the different groups of AECOPD patients. But we cannot deny on the clinical significance of these parameters. The TLC and platelet count were slightly lower in the AECOPD patients with cor pulmonale when compared with AECOPD patients without cor pulmonale. Similarly, platelet parameters like MPV and PDW were slightly higher in the AECOPD patients who are smokers. Though these parameters were not statistically significant, they are found to be cost effective, time saving and clinically significant which would definitely help in the management of AECOPD patients. Hence, these parameters can be used as an easily measurable AECOPD biomarker.
Highlights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and heterogenous disease characterised by chronic inflammation in the airways by noxious particle such as tobacco smoking.[1]
Cor pulmonale was seen in 62 patients (43.05%) and other systemic diseases like hypertension, diabetes and renal failure was seen in 56 patients (38.89%)
This study showed the mean age of the patients with Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) was 70.47 ± 9.49 years where mean age of male patients was more than mean age of female patients
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and heterogenous disease characterised by chronic inflammation in the airways by noxious particle such as tobacco smoking.[1] Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major global health problem with an upward trend.[2] It is characterised by progressive air flow limitation that is not fully reversible and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung to noxious particles or gases.[2,3]. In some patients there are episodes of increased symptoms called as acute exacerbations.[3] Acute exacerbations is clinically defined as increase in shortness of breathing, severity of cough and sputum volume and/or purulence of sputum. Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) have short and long term clinical implications and are associated with accelerated decline in lung function which is the hallmark of COPD.[4]
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