Correlation of HbA1c with COPD severity

Abstract

Background and aim
Lung inflammation is the main defining feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and COPD severity reflects an increase in inflammation. Eighty-nine percent of COPD patients during acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation have elevated blood glucose.
This research aimed to study the correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1c) and COPD severity.


Patients and methods
The current work is a retrospective observational study containing 40 COPD patients who attended the Pulmonology Department at the Hospital of Benha University during the period January 2022 to October 2023. The following were done for the patients: (a) Written consent from the patients. (b) Obtaining clinical history including smoking history. (c) Clinical examination including weight and height. (d) ABG. (e) Chest radiograph (P-A view). (f) Spirometry. (g) Ancillary studies including CBC with differential, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), and HBA1c.


Results
The correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin and CRP was positive and significant. A correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin and forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1%) was negative and significant.


Conclusion
HBA1c; can be used as a marker of COPD severity, and can be used with other inflammatory markers like CRP in determining COPD prognosis.