Electrocardiographic characteristics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: An observational study

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. It causes alteration in the cardiac performance that can be recorded by electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography noninvasively. Methods: In this observational study, we studied ECG changes and their relation with the disease severity and disease duration amongst 100 COPD patients. Results: Their mean age was 58.1 ± 12.0 years, and the mean disease duration was 7.9 ± 4.1 years. ECG was found normal in 31% and abnormal in 69% of subjects. Right axis deviation (RAD), right ventricular hypertrophy, right bundle branch block and P-pulmonale were noted in 38%, 28%, 20% and 17% of study subjects, respectively. Left bundle branch block, ventricular premature contractions (VPC) and second and third-degree block were seen in none of the subjects. ECG was found abnormal in 78% of patients with Stage 4 COPD, whereas only 17% of patients with Stage 1 COPD had their ECGs abnormal (P < 0.01). ECG was abnormal in 91% of patients with a disease duration of more than 10 years and 39% of patients with a disease duration of <5 years (P < 0.001). Conclusions: RAD appeared to be the most common ECG finding in patients with COPD. Patients with advanced disease and longer disease duration have a high risk for ECG to be abnormal.

Keywords

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• electrocardiogram
• global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease staging
• p-pulmonale
• right axis deviation
• right bundle branch block
• right ventricular hypertrophy