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Abstract
A case control study was conducted to assess the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and COPD in a sample of one hundred elderly males who were recruited from Chest , Geriatrics and Gerontology departments at Ain Shams University Hospitals.
Elders with cognitive impairment, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, end organ failure, malignancies and acute inflammatory conditions that may affect fibrinogen level or FMD were excluded.
Included elders were subjected to comprehensive geriatric assessment, assessment of pulmonary functions using simple spirometry and assessment of endothelial dysfunction by flow mediated brachial artery dilation technique and laboratorial measurement of plasma fibrinogen level.
Results of the current study revealed a significant relationship between COPD and endothelial dysfunction. FMD was impaired in COPD and impairment was proportionate to the degree of COPD severity also, serum fibrinogen levels were elevated in COPD and elevation was proportionate to the degree of COPD severity
In the current study markers of endothelial dysfunction were significantly correlated with smoking characters(smoking index and duration), where fibrinogen had a significant positive correlation with amount and duration of smoking while FMD% had a significant negative correlation with duration and amount of smoking.
There was a significant difference between cases and controls as regard markers of endothelial dysfunction in both current and X- smokers which could be explained by the effect of COPD on the endothelial function.
Even among controls, mean fibrinogen was significantly higher in current smokers compared to X-smokers and mean FMD% was significantly higher in X-smokers compared to current smokers which could be explained by the effect of smoking itself on endothelial function.
Finally , it can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between endothelial dysfunction and COPD in elderly males and this relation may be due to smoking effect or COPD process itself.