The relationship of fractional exhaled nitric oxide with eosinophils and inflammatory factors in elderly patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the relationship of fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO)levels with eosinophils(EOS), C-reactive protein(CRP), procalcitonin(PCT)levels in elderly patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap(ACO).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted.According to the inclusion criteria, 60 elderly patients with ACO admitted in Fujian Geriatric Hospital from May 2016 to May 2019 were enrolled in the ACO group.During the same period, 60 patients with bronchial asthma were included in the asthma group, 60 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)were recruited in the COPD group, and 60 people taking health examination were included in the health group.Levels of FeNO, EOS, CRP and PCT were detected and compared between the groups.Correlations of FeNO levels with EOS and inflammatory factors were analyzed by the Spearman correlation.Results:The group with asthma alone showed the highest levels of FeNO, followed by the ACO group, the COPD group and the healthy group( F=970.235, P=0.000). The ACO group had the highest levels of EOS, CRP and PCT, followed by the COPD group, the asthma group and the healthy group( F=103.74, 76.648 and 57.042, P=0.000). Spearman bivariate correlation analysis showed that FeNO levels were positively correlated with levels of EOS, CRP and PCT in the asthma, COPD and ACO groups(the asthma group r=0.646, 0.326 and 0.497, P=0.000, 0.014 and 0.000; the COPD group r=0.398, 0.613 and 0.432, P=0.009, 0.000 and 0.001 the ACO group r=0.654, 0.573 and 0.516, P=0.000, 0.000 and 0.000). Conclusions:High levels of FeNO are found in elderly patients with ACO.Levels of FeNO are positively correlated with EOS, CRP and PCT levels in peripheral blood, and can be used as a sensitive index for airway hyperinflammatory responses.