The Relationship between Highly Sensitive C-Reactive Protein and Prognostic Factors in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Background and Objectives Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world and is the fourth leading cause of death it represents an important public health challenge that is both preventable and treatable. The objective of this study is to correlate the levels of serum hsCRP with severity of COPD pulmonary function tests PFTs and other clinical parameters.Methods A cross sectional study was conducted over a period of one year. A minimum of 60 patients of both genders with COPD who fulfilled the inclusionexclusion criteria were evaluated with detailed history Pack years BMI FEV1 and hsCRP.Results Forty nine patients had raised hsCRP values i.e gt0.3mgdl. Of them 46 patients were in GOLD stage IIIV suggesting that marked limitation of air flow was related to raised hsCRP levels. HsCRP had a significant negative correlation with age and a significant positive correlation with pack years duration of illness BMIampGOLD Stages.Interpretation and Conclusion This study illustrates that hsCRP is an early systemic inflammatory marker that determines outcomes of COPD patients. Age BMIamppack years tobacco chewing have a significant correlation with hsCRP. It can be inferred that hsCRP is a useful marker which reflects the systemic inflammation that occurs in COPD. This marker can be useful as an auxiliary marker other than Pulmonary Function Test in assessing patients status.nbsp