The need for investigating the serum procalcitonin levels in an acute attack of obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of chronic diffuse irreversible airflow obstruction. Due to the relatively high prevalence of the disease and its high financial burden, paying attention to the treatment of these patients helps substantially in controlling the disease and reducing its cost.This study is aimed to investigate the presence of serum procalcitonin in patients with an acute attack of COPD.Method: This cross-sectional study was performed on ۶۵patients with an acute COPD attack in Imam-Reza Hospital in ۲۰۱۹ by the available sampling method. Inclusion criteria include Patients with an acute COPD attack who don’t have another underlying disease that increases procalcitonin. Non-entry criteria include Antibiotic use for the past three months. Three ccs of blood samples were taken from patients to check serum procalcitonin levels from hospitalization to ۲۴hours after. Patients with an acute COPD attack were selected based on American thoracic society criteria. Also, demographic information such as age, sex, hospitalization time and duration of disease was recorded. Acute COPD attack was defined by sudden dyspnea andexacerbation of cough and sputum, which led to hospitalization in the emergency department. Clinical signs, patient complaints, disease exacerbation (mild, moderate, and severe) type of ventilation and respiratory rate were recorded. Data were analyzed with SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were expressed with frequency and mean±SD. Man-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to analyze the data. To compare the two groups, the post hoc test was used. The significance level was <۰.۰۵. Informed consent was received from all participants. Findings: According to data, ۶۵patients (۳۶men and ۲۹women) were examined and the mean age of the patients was ۶۶.۷۲(±۱۲.۶۵) years. Dyspnea was the most common complaint in patients. Most patients(۳۶people) had the disease for ۱-۵years. Most patients (۳۶people) were hospitalized for ۱-۵days. There was a significant difference between serum procalcitonin levels and the use of invasive ventilation in patients (P=۰.۰۰۸) and serum procalcitonin levels were higher in patients with invasive ventilation. There is also a significant difference between noninvasive ventilation and serum procalcitonin levels (P=۰.۰۰۹). There’s a significant difference between serum procalcitonin levels and disease exacerbation (P<۰.۰۰۱). According to the results of the post hoc test, there was a significant difference between mild and severe (P<۰.۰۰۱) and moderate and severe groups (P<۰.۰۰۱). There’s also a significant correlation between procalcitonin serumlevels and Exacerbation(R=۰.۶, P<۰.۰۰۱) and age(R=۰.۲, P=۰.۰۱). Conclusion: According to the results, serum procalcitonin levels are associated with acute COPD attacks. Procalcitonin levels Measurement in patients with acute COPD attacks can help diagnose and perform timely care. It’s recommended that further studies can perform with a higher sample size and investigating other factors.