PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Tadeusz Przybylowski
AU  - Renata Rubinsztajn
AU  - Krzysztof Karwat
AU  - Marta Maskey-Warzechowska
AU  - Ryszarda Chazan
TI  - Anemia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P539
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P539.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P539.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Anemia is frequently associated with many chronic diseases and can be responsible for weakness, fatigue, impaired mood, deficits in cognitive function and decreased quality of life. Anemia is also common in COPD and is associated with higher comorbidity, mortality, and costs of care, its prevalence in COPD patients is estimated at 13 to 23%.The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of anemia in COPD patients and analyze its relationship with functional status.Methods.Study group consisted of 132 patients (37% F), at mean age 68.2±9 years with post-bronchodilator FEV1 57.1±19.2% of predicted. Anemia was defined by hemoglobin concentration < 13.5 g/dL in male and < 12 mg/dL in female patients. Biochemical analysis included measurement of serum C-reactive protein, iron, transferrin, and soluble transferrin receptor. Pulmonary assessment comprised spirometry, plethysmography and 6 minute walk test (6MWT).ResultsAnemia was diagnosed in 24 (18.2%) patients: 4 female and 20 male patients (p<0.05). There were no differences in the distribution of anemia depending on the severity of COPD (according to the GOLD staging system or BODE index). Patients with anemia were older (66.7±8.9 vs 74.5±5.6 yrs; p<0.05), had higher serum creatinine level (0,91±0,2 vs 1,0±0,2 mg/dL; p< 0.05) and lower 6MWT distance (365.5±123 vs 439.3±115.4 m; p<0.05). Patients with anemia were also characterized by lower serum iron (90.2±30.7 vs 113±41.2 μg/dL; p<0.05) and higher serum transferrin receptor (3.7±1.2 vs 3.1±0.9 mg/L; p<0.05).Conclusions: Anemia in COPD is more prevalent in males and can effect up to 20% of patients. It does not seem to depend on the severity of disease, however, it significantly reduces exercise capacity of patients.