COPD, an inflammatory systemic disease. Inflammatory parameters in a group of COPD patients

Abstract

Introduction: COPD is an inflammatory systemic disease, and its base seems to be a subclinical inflammation

Objective: To analyze the characteristics on inflammatory parameters in a group of patients diagnosed with COPD in our Basic Health Area, compared with a group of subjects without COPD

Methods: Cross-sectional study, developed in primary care center, attending 15,855 users. Random sample of 869 individuals over 18 years, whit medical history, anthropometric parameters and risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity) and basic analytical/inflammatory parameters (fibrinogen, blood, platelet and leukocyte counts, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)

Results: Of 869 subjects, 37 had COPD diagnosis confirmed by spirometry (4.2%). The following table [table 1]reflects some of the analytical parameters:

Conclusions : COPD group shows a greater inflammatory component that the group exempt from this condition with regard to fibrinogen, leukocyte count and hs-CRP. We had also been identified significative differences in the values of uric acid. In contrast, the platelet and blood counts had not shown differences. So, it means that COPD is a systemic disease and is accompanied by an inflammatory component of different degrees.