Pathophysiological Correlation between Diabetes Mellitus Type-II and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic disease is usually associated and linked to many other conditions and complications. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); a life threatening progressive inflammatory lung disease associated with chronic bronchitis and emphysema; when associated with Diabetes Mellitus generates a huge burden on patients quality of life as well as on health care systems. OBJECTIVE: Although link between DM and COPD is not scientifically established or confirmed yet, however evidence suggest a pathophysiological correlation between both conditions might be present. This study focuses upon impact of DM on the onset of COPD and to find if there is any evidence of the suggested pathophysiological correlation. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively analyzed 120 cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), data collected from General Medical Units and Pulmonary Ward of Liaquat University Teaching Hospital, Jamshoro / Hyderabad from January till June, 2016. RESULTS: The majority of cases with COPD were male representing 81.6% of the sample population, almost 90% of patients were smokers or ex-smokers, 42.50% of COPD patients were suffering from DM and 76.47% were either non-compliant or had a very poor control over their blood glucose level. Blood glucose levels of most of the patients was from 140 mg/dl to 500 mg/dl and 19.60% of patients reached diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) once at least. CONCLUSION: DM increases the risk for occurrence of COPD and cause rapid decline in clinical state of the patient. Unlike cardiovascular complication of diabetes in case of diabetic patients with COPD the lower the BMI the higher the risk of mortality.