Abstract
Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects 2-37% of patients with COPD, depending on the subgroup examined and is highly variable in different studies. Co-existence worsens each condition and the prognosis for the patient.
Aim: To find out the prevalence of DM and its correlation with comorbidities and disease characteristics in patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation.
Methods: 92 patients were investigated for the presence of DM. All of them were also investigated for metabolic syndrome. Data were gathered for smoking status and exacerbations in the last year. The patients completed CAT and mMRC questionnaires and underwent spirometry.
Results: 12% (n=11) of patients are taking medications for diabetes. Additional 21,7% (n=20) have evidence of newly discovered DM and 31,5% (n=29) have prediabetes. Only 34,8% of the studied patients do not have DM or prediabetes. 74% (23 from 31) of patients with diabetes had HbA1c>6,5% suggesting prolonged hyperglycemia. The presence of DM is associated with more severe exacerbations (hospitalizations) during the previous year (p=0.037), higher total cholesterol (p=0.025) and older age (p=0.04). There is a tendency for a correlation between the presence of DM and metabolic syndrome (p=0.075). DM is not associated with worsening pulmonary function and does not differ between sexes. The prevalence of DM in this study is significantly higher when compared to national representative data (12,8% in subjects over 40 years).
Conclusions: Patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation are at great risk for impaired glucose metabolism. 33,7% of them have DM and 31,5% have prediabetes. The majority of the patients in this study are unaware of having diabetes.
- © 2014 ERS