Carotid atherosclerosis in patients with untreated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic infl ammation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and their correlation in newly diagnosed untreated patients with COPD. DESIGN: Post-bronchodilator spirometry, carotid artery IMT and blood tests were measured in patients with COPD (COPD group). Age, sex, body mass index, smoking status and smoking amount were compared with matched healthy subjects (non-COPD group). Participants taking medications and/or with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, COPD or cardiovascular disease were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients (COPD group 42, non-COPD group 84) were enrolled. The IMT and hsCRP of the COPD group were signifi cantly higher than in the non-COPD group (P < 0.05). The decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio and FEV1 was signifi cantly correlated with an increase in the hsCRP and IMT (P <0.05); there was no correlation between the IMT and hsCRP (P = 0.152). CONCLUSION: In newly diagnosed untreated patients with COPD, the carotid artery IMT and hsCRP were signifi cantly higher than in healthy subjects. These fi ndings suggest that systemic infl ammation may play a potential role in preclinical atherosclerosis in COPD.