CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to partialreversible obstruction of airways. The objective of our study is to determine frequency ofelevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level in patients of COPD at Liaquat University HospitalJamshoro/Hyderabad. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Medical Unit-I of LiaquatUniversity Hospital Jamshoro/Hyderabad. Period: 1st March 2013 to 31st August 2013. Patientsand Methods: Patients of either sex and ages from 40-80 years old and having COPD for atleast two years duration were included. Patients below 40 years of age, having malignanciesor autoimmune disorders were excluded from this study. Results: We enrolled 186 patientswith COPD and their mean age was ± SD 57.63±8.45 years. Majority 182 (97.8%) had habitof smoking while 4(2.2%) were non-smokers. Mean CRP level in COPD patients was ± SD1.26±0.79 (range 0.1- 3.0 mg/d1). Out of 186 COPD patients, 94(50.6%) have raised CRP level(higher than 1.0 mg/dl). Median value of CRP level during this study was 1.10 mg/dl. About92(49.4%) patients have normal level of CRP (less than 1.0 mg/dl). Conclusion: On conclusion,frequency of raised C-reactive protein in our study was much higher (50.6%).