Telomere length in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Telomere length (TL) is considered a biomarker of cellular aging. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is found to be associated with premature aging and the senescence hypothesis is now accepted as a molecular pathway for COPD development. Purpose The aim of this study was to measure TL in COPD patients and to study its relation to demographic data, spirometric indices, and arterial blood gases parameters. Participants and methods We measured TL using quantitative PCR in 20 patients with severe to very severe COPD and 11 age-matched and sex-matched nonsmokers. Results TL was significantly shorter in COPD patients (P < 0.001). Among COPD patients, TL was significantly shorter in current smokers than ex-smokers. In COPD patients, TL was correlated positively with SpO2%, pH (P < 0.05), PaO2 (P < 0.01), FVC% (P < 0.05) and FEV1%, and FEF25–75% (P < 0.001) and not correlated with pack-year. The BODE (Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise capacity) index was correlated negatively with TL (P < 0.01); among BODE index parameters, the dyspnea score correlated negatively (P < 0.05) with TL. TL was shorter in very severe COPD than severe COPD (P < 0.001). Conclusion Our data support accelerated cellular senescence in COPD represented by shortening of TL; TL was correlated positively with airflow limitation and it may be related to impaired physical activities in COPD, which is a manifestation of the aging process.