Original Research Article: A Comparison of the Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) of Patients with Stable COPD and Those with Acute Exacerbation (AECOPD)

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, and it represents a major health, social and economic burden. Macrocytosis (MCV>94 fl) is frequently observed at patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with or without respiratory insufficiency. Objectives: The objectives of the study is to Compare Mean Corpuscular volume (MCV) between Acute Exacerbation and stable COPD patients. Methodology: This Hospital based case control study includes 50 patients with primary and final diagnosis of AECOPD. 50 subjects in stable period of COPD. A random Blood sample was collected from all subjects and analysed for MCV, WBC, RDW and MPV on the same day within 3 hours of collection. Data was recorded as per Performa. The data analysis was done. For categoric variables chi-square test was used. For continuous variables independent samples t-test was used. P-value <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Maximum patients in both groups were found in >60 yrs age group. The mean age in AECOPD group was 64.62±8.24 yrs and in Stable COPD was 63.22±9.18 yrs. Maximum patients in both groups were from middle class followed by lower socio-economic class. BMI was significantly lower in AECOPD patients (20.94±2.15 kg/mt2) as compare to stable COPD patients (21.37±3.10kg/mt2). Maximum patients in both groups were having cough and breathlessness. Maximum patients in both groups were smoker. 58.00% patients in AECOPD and 30.00% patients in stable COPD group were present smoker. Maximum patients in AECOPD group were from GOLD stage 4 and in stable COPD were also from GOLD stage 4.Mean FEV1 % was significantly lower in AECOPD patients (43.87±14.26) as compare to stable COPD patients (48.12±20.18). The difference in both groups was found statistically significant. MCV was significantly lower in AECOPD (82.04±1.49) as compare to stable COPD patients (86.50±1.87). The difference in both groups was found statistically significant 4.00% hospital mortality in AECOPD group. Conclusion: The current study’s results indicate that there was a statistically significant correlation between the MCV and the mortality rate, length of hospital stay, and severity of COPD. Furthermore, it was shown that there was a substantial correlation between the severity of COPD and patient mortality, meaning that the majority of study mortality involved individuals with severe COPD.