Study of microalbuminuria and its correlation with severity of disease in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABSTRACT

Background: Microalbuminuria is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Microalbuminuria may be seen due to hypoxemia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objectives were to study the presence of microalbuminuria in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to determine the relationship of microalbuminuria with severity of COPD using GOLD staging.Methods: The study was done on 68 patients of COPD. Urine spot albumin measurement, pulmonary function tests, spirometry and GOLD staging were done. Severity of COPD was assessed by GOLD staging. Pearson Co-relation test and ANOVA test were used for statistical analysis.Results: Statistical analysis showed that strong and statistically significant positive correlation of Microalbuminuria with GOLD staging(r =0.749, p = 0.001).Conclusions: Microalbuminuria(MAB) was found to increase in patients with increasing severity of COPD. Hence its potential role as a marker of severity of disease and in predicting risk of cardiovascular disease can be explored.