The Role of Systemic Inflammation in COPD Severity: Insights from FEV1 and hs-CRP

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex inflammatory disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation. While pulmonary inflammation is a hallmark, the role of systemic inflammation in COPD severity remains an area of active investigation. This study aimed to explore the relationship between lung function, assessed by Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), and systemic inflammation, measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), in patients with stable COPD. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 51 patients with stable COPD. Lung function was assessed using spirometry, and hs-CRP levels were measured using the Architect tool. The relationship between FEV1 and hs-CRP was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation test. The study population consisted predominantly of older males (mean age 64.05 ± 8.05 years) with moderate to severe airflow limitation (mean FEV1 33.65 ± 15.78%). All patients had hs-CRP levels within the normal range (<10 mg/L), with a median of 0.34 mg/L. A significant negative correlation was observed between FEV1 and hs-CRP (r = -0.260, p = 0.032), indicating that patients with worse lung function tended to have higher levels of systemic inflammation. The findings suggest that even in stable COPD, systemic inflammation, as reflected by hs-CRP, is associated with lung function impairment. This highlights the potential role of systemic inflammation in COPD progression and underscores the need for further research to elucidate the complex interplay between pulmonary and systemic inflammation in this disease.