Abstract

Prof. Dr. R. Balajinathan M. D. and Dr. T. Balamurugan*

ABSTRACT

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic airflow limitation and various pathological changes in the lungs. COPD also presents with significant extra-pulmonary effects and is associated with various important co morbidities that may contribute to disease severity. Chronic airflow limitation(CRL) is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung to noxious particles or gases, particularly cigarette smoke. The main causes of morbidity and mortality among COPD patients are cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and smoking is the significant modifiable risk factor related to CVD. Among COPD patients, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for approximately 50% of all hospitalizations and 20% of all deaths. However studies have suggested that regardless of smoking status, age or sex, a COPD diagnosis increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by approximately about two fold. Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction (LVDD) is found to be a complication of COPD due to chronic hypoxia and as a consequence of inflammatory changes in the body. Eventhough Right Ventricular dysfunction is well studied in COPD patients, the presence of Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in COPD patients is associated with increase in disease severity and frequent hospital admission. Inflammation is considered to be one of the systemic manifestations of COPD and provides an alternative hypothesis to explain the relationship between airflow limitation and cardiovascular risk. The current study is undertaken to analyse the prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction in COPD and its relation to disease severity. Also to check whether the elevated CRP correlates with the prevalence of LVDD and severity of COPD.