Search

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a medical condition defined by persistent airflow limitation and respiratory symptoms caused by airway and/or alveolar abnormalities. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is one of the cardiovascular comorbidities associated with COPD. We investigated the correlation of NLRC3 levels in patients with COPD with prognostic and surrogate parameters of PH on echocardiography and examined whether it could be used to predict PH in this patient population. Methods: A total of 80 patients diagnosed with COPD and 40 healthy volunteers as the control group were included in the study. The COPD group was further divided into two subgroups according to the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) as follows: sPAP<35 mmHg and sPAP≥35 mmHg. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to determine the levels of NLRC3 in peripheral blood. Results: Patients with sPAP≥35 mmHg had a lower mean NLRC3 level than those with sPAP<35 mmHg (P=0.006). The NLRC3 levels showed a significant negative correlation with sPAP, tricuspid regurgitation velocity, right atrium, and pulmonary artery diameter. For NLRC3, the cut-off value was found to be 271,486 ng/L, with a sensitivity of 74%, and specificity of 63% in distinguishing patients with sPAP≥35 mmHg from all patients with sPAP<35 mmHg. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that NLRC3 levels measured from peripheral blood are predictive of PH in patients with COPD. Although the exact function of NLRC3 in the lungs, COPD, and PH have not been completely understood, we believe these findings will serve as a model for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) is a noninvasive method assessing atherosclerosis. Objective: It was aimed to determine relationship and survival between COPD and CIMT. Methods: CIMT was measured using Doppler ultrasound (USG) in 668 stable COPD patients at 24 centers. Patients were followed‐up for 2 years. Results: There were 610 patients who completed the study. There were 200 patients CIMT with <0.78 mm (group 1), and 410 with CIMT ≥ 0.78 mm (group 2). There was a significant difference at the parameters of age, gender, smoking load, biomass exposure, GOLD groups and degree of airway obstruction (FEV1) between groups 1 and 2. Our results revealed positive correlations between mean CIMT and age, smoking load (pack‐years), biomass exposure (years), exacerbation rate (last year), duration of hypertension (years) and cholesterol level; negative correlations between CIMT and FEV1 (P < 0.05). According to logistic regression model, compared with group A, risk of CIMT increase was 2.2‐fold in group B, 9.7‐fold in group C and 4.4‐fold in group D (P < 0.05). Risk of CIMT increase was also related with cholesterol level (P < 0.05). Compared with infrequent exacerbation, it was 2.8‐fold in the patients with frequent exacerbation (P < 0.05). The mean survival time was slightly higher in group 1, but not significant (23.9 vs 21.8 months) (P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study is the first regarding CIMT with combined GOLD assessment groups. It has revealed important findings supporting the increase in atherosclerosis risk in COPD patients. We recommend Doppler USG of the carotid artery in COPD patients at severe stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, epidemiological data on COPD is very limited. This study was designed to obtain some baseline data on COPD in the Malatya region of Turkey. Methods: Sixty clusters from urban and rural regions were randomly selected. Ten and seven consecutive households were included in the study from each urban and rural cluster, respectively. A validated questionnaire on the epidemiology of COPD was completed for each participant over 18 by a pulmonary physician. Each subject underwent standard spirometric measurement and early bronchodilation testing. Results: A total of 1160 participants completed the study (93%). Some 6.9% of the participants were found to have COPD (F/M=1/4). While the prevalence of COPD was 18.1% in current smokers over 40 years of age, the prevalence was 4.5% among younger smokers. Some 25.5% of the women and 57.2% of the men were current smokers. Biomass exposure, as a sole reason for COPD, was significantly common among female patients living in rural areas (54.5%). In the development of COPD, the relative risk ratio of cigarette smoke was found to be 3.4 and 3.3 times higher than biomass exposure and occupational exposure, respectively. Conclusions: Smoking rate and COPD prevalence were found to be unexpectedly high in the region, and biomass exposure is still an important cause of COPD, particularly among females living in rural areas. We think that national policies against smoking and biomass exposure should be implemented immediately. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]