Features of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with occupational COPD and cardiovascular comorbidity

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, with over 30% of these patients dying from cardiovascular diseases. Objective: to study the pathophysiological links between echocardiography, spirometry indicators, and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with various clinical phenotypes of occupational COPD with cardiovascular comorbidity. Material and methods. The study included 111 patients with occupational COPD and cardiovascular comorbidity. Based on spirometry results, patients were divided into 4 groups (clinical phenotypes). Clinical examinations, echocardiography, and serum concentrations of troponin I, endothelin-1 (E-1), endothelial synthase (ES), hyaluronic acid (HA), and myoglobin were performed. Results. The concentrations of troponin I, myoglobin, and E-1 were normal in all groups. HA concentration was highest among phenotype “E” patients (p = 0.0008). ES concentration in phenotype “E” was more than 2.5 times higher compared to other groups (p = 0.0022). Myoglobin concentration positively correlated with left ventricular myocardium thickness, ES, eosinophil levels, and coronary heart disease (p < 0.05), while ES concentration correlated positively with hypertension. HA concentration negatively correlated with spirometry and echocardiography indicators and positively correlated with eosinophil levels and exacerbations (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Further research is needed to identify biomarkers reflecting the risk of exacerbations in cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with occupational COPD