Abstract
The concept of COPD as a systemic disease has been widely accepted in the past several years. However, to date, rare studies have analyzed correlation between exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) and Metabolic Sndrome (MetS).
The aim of this study was to examine if presence of MetS increases the frequency, duration and severity of ECOPD.
Methods: Patients with COPD were prospectively enrolled and followed between January 2008 and December 2011. Medical records, pulmonary function tests, chest X-rays; laboratory test results were gathered to establish the presence of COPD and MetS. Patients were divided in two groups; with and without MetS. The ECOPD was defined as worsening of symptoms requiring increased use of rescue medications and/or need for either systemic steroids or antibiotics or that led to emergency room visit or hospitalizations during 36 months follow-up. A total of 100 patients were recruited, 60 with MetS and 40 without. The mean exacerbation of COPD frequency was 2 in MetS group versus 0.7 in the control group during the follow-up period (P < 0.001). Mean duration of each exacerbation was 8 ± 1.5 days in patients with MetS versus 5,5 ± 1.3 days in patients without. Acute respiratory failure was more frequent in patients with metS than control with significant difference. Serum C-reactive protein (r = 0.3, P = 0.001), fasting blood glucose (r = 0.6, P < 0.001), and triglycerides (p = 0.01) were positively and significantly correlated with exacerbation frequency. This study demonstrates an association between ECOPD and its duration and severity with the MetS. The systemic inflammation induced by common cytokines may explain the linkage between the two conditions.
- © 2012 ERS