DefinePK

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic Trends observed in individuals suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)., investigating how these findings correlate with the disease’s duration and severity. Additionally, it compares the efficacy of clinical, ECG, and echocardiographic assessments in identifying Right ventricular (RV) impairment.
A cross-sectional study conducted over the course of three months took place in the medical wards at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute in Chennai. Participants
Fifty patients admitted with COPD symptoms and signs.
Methods: Over three months , patients were randomly selected and evaluated through a detailed clinical history, including smoking habits and symptom duration, followed by a thorough physical examination. All participants underwent spirometry, ECG, and echocardiography. Based on the British Thoracic Society (BTS) criteria, COPD severity was classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Correlation analyses were conducted using Pearson's and Chi-square tests were utilized, establishing statistical significance at a threshold of p <0 0.05.
Results: The average age of patients was 59.9 years, with a standard deviation of 10.4 years. There was a higher prevalence of male patients. The mean duration of the disease was 5.7 years, and patients had an average smoking exposure of 23.2 pack-years, with a standard deviation of 3.6. Key electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiographic indicators of disease severity included "P pulmonale, axis deviation to right , right bundle branch block, right ventricular hypertrophy, poor progression of R wave , and dilation of the right atrium and       ventricle. Additionally, r ight ventricul ar fai lure, pulmonary hypertension, and corpulmonale were observed. Cor pulmonale was present in 36% of patients clinically, identified through ECG in 44%, and detected via echocardiography in 54%.
Conclusion: COPD predominantly affects males aged between 50 and 70 years, particularly those with history of smoking over twenty pack-years. Most COPD diagnoses are in individuals presenting with moderate to severe stages. With the progression and increased duration of COPD, the prevalence of ECG and 2d echo abnormalities rises. Echocardiography has been shown to be more effective than clinical assessments and electrocardiography in detecting right ventricular dysfunction.