Evaluation of spirometric and pulmonary haemodynamic parameters in patients with COPD

: In this study we aimed to asses the association between the spirometric test which is known to be an indicator of severity of the disease and pulmonary artery pressure, in patient chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Study population consisted of 51 patients with COPD. Severity of the disease was graded by the criteria of European Respiratory Society; mildly obstructive 5 patients (FEV1 > 70%), moderately obstructive 10 (FEV1= 50-69%), severely obstructive 36 patients (FEV1 < 50%). Measurement of pulmonary artery pressure was performed bt microcatheterisation method. Statistical analysis was performed between two groups; group I consisted of mildly and moderately obstructive patients, and group II severely obstructive patients. Pulmonary artery pressure of the group II patients was significantly higher than that of group I patients (27 +/- 4 mmHg vs 22 +/- 1.6 mmHg, respectively p< 0.001). There were also statistically significant difference between group I and group II in respect to FEV1% (63 +/- 7 vs 28 +/- 9 respectively p< 0.001), FEV1 L (1.84 +/- 0.46 vs 0.89 +/- 0.36 respectively p< 0.001), FEV1/FVC (71 +/- 10 vs 53 +/- 11 respectively p< 0.001), FVC% (73 +/- 8 vs 47 +/- 10 respectively p< 0.001), and MMF% (38 +/- 13 vs 15 +/- 6 respectively p< 0.001). Pulmonary artery pressure and diameter of right descending pulmonary artery on chest X-ray of the patients were negatively correlated with FEV1%, FEV1 L, FVC and MMF (p< 0.001 for all). We have shown pulmonary artery pressure of the patients with COPD was negatively correlated with the spirometric parameters such as FEV1%, FEV1 L, FVC and MMF. So FEV1 < 50% can be used as an indicator of increased pulmonary artery pressure in patients with COPD.