COMPARATIVE ROLE OF ECG AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC COR PULMONALE IN PATIENTS WITHMODERATE AND SEVERE COPD
Abstract:
Objectives: The objective of this study was to highlight the correlations between ECG
and echocardiographic changes with diagnostic role in right ventricular hypertrophy in patients
with COPD GOLD stage II and III, as well as the correlations with respiratory functional
impairment degree. Materials and methods: the study was conducted on a sample of 61 patients
with COPD aged between 44 and 78 years old. Among them, 38 have been diagnosed with COPD
GOLD stage II, and 23 with stage III. The patients underwent ECG and echocardiography with a
view to detect any signs of right ventricular hypertrophy. Results: Patients with moderate and
severe form of COPD often associate right ventricular hypertrophy on ultrasound, statistically
uncorrelated with the degree of impaired respiratory function, but highlighting significant
correlations of right ventricular hypertrophy with pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP)
values. Electrocardiography shows a low sensitivity compared to echocardiographic method in the
diagnosis of chronic cor pulmonale. Conclusions: The degree of respiratory functional impairment
measured by maximum forced expiratory volume (FEV) in the first second, does not correlate with
the risk of right ventricular hypertrophy. ECG method for the diagnosis of chronic cor pulmonale,
although it is accessible, does not have a satisfactory sensitivity.
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