Study of Cardiac Dysfunction by Echocardiography in Patients of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Classified on the Basis of GOLD Guideline 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disorder associated with important cardiovascular complications such as pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular dysfunction, and cor pulmonale. Echocardiography is a non-invasive method for detecting these abnormalities. The present study was conducted to evaluate cardiac dysfunction in COPD patients and correlate echocardiographic findings with disease severity according to GOLD 2024 classification.

Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 100 COPD patients aged more than 40 years over a period of 18 months. Diagnosis and severity grading were based on GOLD 2024 criteria using spirometry. Detailed clinical history, examination, and transthoracic echocardiography were performed in all patients. Echocardiographic findings were correlated with COPD severity.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.8 ± 8.6 years and males constituted 62% of the study population. Smoking was present in 68% of patients. Tricuspid regurgitation was the most common echocardiographic abnormality and was observed in 56% of patients, followed by pulmonary arterial hypertension in 53%, left ventricular hypertrophy in 33%, right atrial enlargement in 16%, and right ventricular dilatation in 14%. Pulmonary arterial hypertension increased from 1.9% in mild COPD to 52.8% in very severe COPD. Similar increases were noted in tricuspid regurgitation, right atrial enlargement, and right ventricular dilatation with increasing COPD severity.

Conclusion: Cardiac dysfunction was common in COPD patients and increased with worsening disease severity. Echocardiography was found to be an effective non-invasive tool for early detection of cardiovascular abnormalities.