Clinical Profile and Echocardiographic Evaluation of Right Heart in Patients of COPD and Its Correlation with Disease Progression

Abstract

Introduction: To assess the clinical profile and echocardiographic evaluation of the right heart in patients of COPD and its correlation with disease progression. Methods & Materials: An observational, cross-sectional study was done on 100 patients with COPD who were admitted at Dept. of Cardiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital, Faridpur, Bangladesh and underwent echocardiographic evaluation from January to December 2022. All echocardiogaphic parameters focused on right heart and its function were assessed. Results: Total 100 COPD patients included in our study. Majority patients of them were female (62 patients, 62%). Male to female ratio is 1:1.6. Ninety-Six patients (96%) studied had significant ECG abnormality out of which P ‘pulmonale was the most common (90 patients, 90%) while atrial arrhythmias in the form of Atrial fibrillation (AF) or Multifocal tachycardia (MAT) (12 patients, 12%) being the least common finding. Pulmonary hypertension defined as sPAP>30 mmHg was evident in all of the patients; with 59.0 patients (59.0%), 28 (28.0%) and 13 (13.0 %) patients having severe, moderate and mild pulmonary hypertension respectively. RV dysfunction was evident with reduced average TAPSE values (1.59± 0.38 cm) and elevated RIMP values (0.58±0.16). Conclusion: Majority of COPD patients ultimately developed pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiogram can be a helpful tool to evaluate early changes on the right heart size and function in patients with COPD and also monitor these patients for rapid progression of the illness.