ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF RIGHT VENTRICLE CHANGES IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD) PATIENTS OF DIFFERENT SEVERITY

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by interminable air flow limitation that is not fully reversible COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic asthmatic bronchitis.  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a complex disease with various systemic manifestations and one of the co-morbidity linked with COPD is cardiovascular disease.  Hypoxic vasoconstriction and alterations in pulmonary microvasculature, which are both observed in COPD patients, leads to an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. As a result, this increase in right ventricular (RV) after load causes right ventricular remodeling, including chamber dilatation and wall hypertrophy and ultimately to functional deterioration.  The aim of this study to evaluate the right ventricular changes that develop secondary to COPD using GOLD guidelines and echocardiographic findings .This cross-sectional study involved 134 patients who presented to the pulmonary disease outpatient clinic with COPD. We assessed the right ventricular changes in COPD patients of different severity using echocardiography .COPD patients shown change in the right ventricular dimensions as the severity of COPD increases and right ventricular function as well.  It is also observed that frequency of pulmonary hypertension also increased as the severity of COPD increases. The study shows high prevalence of cardiac co-morbidities such as RV dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients. The severity of complications increases with severity of COPD and makes a linear relation.

Keywords: Echocardiography, ECG, COPD