Relationship of Clinical Parameters and Inflammation Markers with Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Aim: Inflammation is an important mechanism in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with COPD. In this study, we investigated the relationship of disease severity parameters and inflammation with PAP in COPD patients. Material and Methods: A patient group consisting of 80 patients with stable COPD including who were obtaining treatment at the outpatient clinic of Kırıkkale University Faculty of Medicine Department of Pulmonary Medicine were included in the study along with a control group of 46 individuals who were compatible with the patient group in terms of age and gender and did not have any airway obstruction. Spirometry measurements were performed (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, MEF and PEF). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) measurements and standard doppler echocardiography were performed at the outpatient clinic of the department of cardiology. Results: CRP was found to be significantly higher in patients with stable COPD compared to the control group. sPAP values of COPD patients were significantly higher than those of the control group. A statistically significant positive relationship was observed between the sPAP value and age (p = 0.006). There was no statistically significant relationship between sPAP and MCIRS score (p = 0.700). A statistically weak negative relationship was observed between sPAP and FVC% (p = 0.053) Conclusion: Development of PAH increases morbidity and mortality. Therefore, patients with advanced stages of COPD should be screened using echocardiography, which is an easy-to-use, fast and repeatable measurement method to check for PAH development.