Title: Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Marker of Acute Exacerbation and Disease Severity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at Tertiary Care Hospital

Authors: Dr Sonam Gupta, Dr Yadvendra Gupta

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i6.55

Abstract

Background: Our hypothesis is that NLR could be a useful important inflammatory marker that detects the inflammatory status during acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) and could identify early acute exacerbations for early management.

Methods: The cross-sectional study includes patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease irrespective of the severity and duration of disease. Study cases are personally interviewed to get relevant details after getting informed signed consent. Based upon inclusion and exclusion criteria a minimum of 100 cases are selected. An exacerbation of COPD is defined as an onset or worsening of more than two respiratory symptoms (ie, dyspnea, cough or wheeze, sputum amount or purulence) for two or more consecutive days.

Results: 46.00% patients duration of disease was more than 10 year and NLR was 4.45±1.28. The severity wise difference in NLR was statistically significant.

Conclusion: NLR can be used as a new inflammatory marker for assessment of inflammation in COPD patients. It is a good predictor for exacerbation of COPD. It is a quick, cheap, easily measurable with no need for a special request.

Keywords: NLR, COPD, Stable.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Yadvendra Gupta

Senior Resident, Department of Medicine, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur