Nalan Ogan1, Ersin Gunay2, Berkay Ekici3, Ayse Baha4, Esen Sayin Gulensoy5, E Eylem Akpinar5, Aycan Yuksel5. 1. Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: nalanogan@gmail.com. 2. Afyon Kocatepe Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. 3. Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Kyrenia Akcicek National Hospital, Department of Chest Diseases, Kyrenia, Cyprus. 5. Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common and important comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Literature indicates that there may be a relationship between diagonal earlobe crease (DELC) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the relationship with DELC and cardiac comorbidities in patients with COPD during routine physical examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated the demographic data, pulmonary function test (PFT) results, lipid profile, oxygen saturation, and the presence of DELC in patients with COPD and control subjects. RESULTS: DELC was diagnosed in 155 (62%) of COPD patients and these patients had a higher prevalence of CAD (p = 0.044). Moreover, DELC was diagnosed in 135 men (68.5%) and 20 (37.7%) women in the COPD group (p<0.001) and in 39 (48.8%) men and 14 (56.0%) women in the control group (p = 0.527). On the other hand, CAD was diagnosed in 18% of patients with early-stage COPD (n = 104) and in 30.8% of patients with late-stage COPD (n = 146) (p = 0.041). The sensitivity and specificity of DELC positivity in predicting CAD were 80.65% and 44.15% in COPD patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of cardiac comorbidities in COPD patients may play a vital role in the severity of the disease, exacerbations, and may also reduce the treatment response. Accordingly, an earlobe examination of patients with COPD may be useful in predicting the presence of cardiac comorbidities with high sensitivity.
OBJECTIVE:Cardiovascular diseases are the most common and important comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Literature indicates that there may be a relationship between diagonal earlobe crease (DELC) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the relationship with DELC and cardiac comorbidities in patients with COPD during routine physical examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated the demographic data, pulmonary function test (PFT) results, lipid profile, oxygen saturation, and the presence of DELC in patients with COPD and control subjects. RESULTS: DELC was diagnosed in 155 (62%) of COPDpatients and these patients had a higher prevalence of CAD (p = 0.044). Moreover, DELC was diagnosed in 135 men (68.5%) and 20 (37.7%) women in the COPD group (p<0.001) and in 39 (48.8%) men and 14 (56.0%) women in the control group (p = 0.527). On the other hand, CAD was diagnosed in 18% of patients with early-stage COPD (n = 104) and in 30.8% of patients with late-stage COPD (n = 146) (p = 0.041). The sensitivity and specificity of DELC positivity in predicting CAD were 80.65% and 44.15% in COPDpatients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of cardiac comorbidities in COPDpatients may play a vital role in the severity of the disease, exacerbations, and may also reduce the treatment response. Accordingly, an earlobe examination of patients with COPD may be useful in predicting the presence of cardiac comorbidities with high sensitivity.