To determine role of clinical cardiological evaluation and ECG in associated left ventricular disease among COPD patients

Background: - The present study was planned to determine role of clinical cardiological evaluation and ECG in associated left ventricular disease among COPD patients.

Introduction:-These patients usually respond to oxygen (O2) therapy, bronchodilators and antibiotics. However left ventricular (LV) dysfunction has been observed by several workers among such patients.

Material & Methods: - The present study included all diagnosed case of COPD of both gender, above the age of 40 years, attending outdoor and indoor of the department of respiratory medicine, the stipulated period, after considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Statistical Analysis: - Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. All the data were presented as mean ±SD for continuous variables and percentage for categorical variables. A comparison was done between variables using independent students ‘t’- test.

Results: - The correlation between radiological finding of chest and the prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction. Radiological findings of LV diastolic dysfunction was observed in 236 out of 257 (91.83%) cases with hyperinflated lung in CXR, whereas it was 71 out of 98 (72.42%) in patients with prominent broncho-vascular marking in CXR. There was no significant relation between chest x-ray findings and LV diastolic dysfunction. (P = > 0.05).

Conclusion: - In our study we found dyspnea to be the predominant symptom. Although some studies indicated a weak relationship between the symptoms of dyspnea as a indicator of disease severity and left ventricular ejection fraction (FEV1, LVEF). But some other studies did not find any such corelationship. We too did not find any significant association between this predominant symptom of dyspnea and LV diastolic dysfunction.