European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Globally, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major contributor to morbidity, disability, and mortality. ECGs are frequently abnormal in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Findings from electrocardiograms (ECGs) could be useful in making clinical decisions about this disease entity.
Aims and objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic values of ECG changes among COPD patients admitted at tertiary care hospital.
Methods:Institutional based cross-sectional study was carried out in Dr. DY Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pune, India. A sample of 130 patients with respiratory illness attending OPD under General Medicine were selected randomly during the study period of 2021-2022.A COPD diagnosis was obtained based on the patient's medical history, chest x-ray findings, and the GOLD criteria based on spirometry. We studied the electrocardiographic profile and its association with severity of the COPD.
Results: Out of the total patients, majority were male. The mean age was 53.96±9.43 years. As per GOLD guidelines, 5% had mild, 38% moderate, 35.3% severe and 21.3% had very severe COPD. Most frequent Symptoms was breathlessness (92.7%) on presentation, followed by cough with sputum (79.3%).The most common ECG changes were P-pulmonalewhich indicates pulmonary hypertension (52.2=7%) and right ventricular hypertrophy (42.7%).Other ECG changes were Low voltage of QRS complex(34.7%), R/S ratio V6<1 (19.3%), R/S ratio V1>1 (24%), Right axis deviation of QRS complex (27.3%), Polymorphic P wave(10.7%), cardiac arrhythmias (5.3%) and right bundle branch block (8.7%). All ECG changes were correlated significantly with severity of the disease except Low voltage of QRS complex.
Conclusion:The results of the study showed a significant correlation between the severity of COPD and electrocardiographic changes such P pulmonale, right ventricular hypertrophy, and right axis deviation. ECG, being simple, noninvasive and inexpensive investigating tool, can be used for cardiac screening of all COPD patients which will behelpful in the assessment of the prognosis, so that proper institution of therapy canbe initiated early to prevent long-term complications of severe pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure