Vikash Kumar, Anjali P. Ghare
BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases are increasing, and are a major cause of death worldwide. Pulmonary hypertension is one of its complication, which is defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure above 25 mmHg at rest, which can be assessed by right heart catheterization. Pulmonary hypertension developing in setting of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the most common causes of pulmonary hypertension. PH in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can lead to increased mortality, irrespective of FEV1 level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Pulmonary hypertension in COPD can lead to increased acute exacerbation, low quality of life of in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. METHODS Patients having clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease visiting NMCH, Jamuhar were enrolled in our study. Spirometry was done in each patient for diagnosis of COPD. In this study, the post bronchodilator FEV1/FVC<0.07 along with clinical symptoms were required to confirm the diagnosis chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, each patient was asked to get 2-D Echo done. Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was done from 2-D ECHO report only. RESULTS Total 104 patients enrolled in our study out of which 11 patients could not complete the study thus they were excluded from study. Remaining 93 patients completed the study. Out of 93 patients (M-61 & F-32) who completed study, 27 patients (M-16 & F-11) were diagnosed having pulmonary hypertension by echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in our study came out to be 29.03%, (in male 26.22% and in female 34.37%). There is no relation between severity of pulmonary hypertension and FEV1 value of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
