Metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: frequency and relationship with systemic inflammation

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is frequent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Systemic inflammation plays an important role in both COPD and MetS. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of MetS in COPD patients and to evaluate the status of systemic inflammation in COPD patients with MetS and those without MetS.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 98 consecutive stable COPD patients. The MetS was defined using the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. Components of MetS and markers of systemic inflammation: C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and leukocyte count were measured. All patients underwent spirometry. The staging of COPD was made according to the Global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) criteria.

Results: MetS was present in 37.8 % COPD patients. The frequencies of MetS in patients with GOLD stages I, II, III, and IV were 33.3 %, 48.8 %, 31.6 %, and 23.1 %, respectively. MetS frequencies were not significantly different between GOLD stages. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed leukocyte count and CRP level as significant independent predictors of the presence of Mets in COPD patients (OR =1.321, 95%CI: 1.007-1.628, p =0.009 and OR =1.184, 95%CI: 1.020-1.376, p =0.027 respectively).

Conclusions: This study shows that MetS is frequent in patients with COPD. Systemic inflammatory markers are higher in COPD patients with MetS than in patients without MetS. These findings suggest that physicians should screen COPD patients for associated MetS and elevated circulatory inflammatory markers. Management of these disorders should reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in these patients. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2):110-114.