Significance of peak oxygen pulse in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Abstract Background Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more likely to develop cardiovascular comorbidities, such as pulmonary hypertension or heart failure. COPD patients are frequently adversely affected by compromised cardiovascular function. Oxygen pulse (O2P) serves as a proxy for stroke volume. However, studies concerning O2P, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and exercise capacity in COPD patients are lacking. Our objective was to verify the association between O2P, exercise capacity, and severe COPD exacerbation. Materials and methods Fifty COPD patients were evaluated using spirometry, echocardiography, and a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) for this study. Hospitalizations and emergency department visits due to COPD, as well as cardiovascular co-morbidities, were tracked. Patients with normal peak O2P and those with impaired peak O2P were compared for these measures. Peak oxygen consumption (O2P) was correlated with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and lung function by simple linear regression. Results Higher exercise capacity (peak oxygen uptake and work rate) and fewer hospitalizations due to COPD were observed in patients with normal peak O2P. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was found to have a statistically significant correlation with arterial oxygen pressure (O2P) in a linear regression model. Conclusion Hospitalization due to COPD and exercise ability are both significantly affected by peak O2P. Peak O2P is strongly correlated with FEV1. The severity of COPD can be measured in part by the patient's peak O2P.