Assessment of Comorbidities in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients by Chest High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT)

TL;DR

This study shows that chest HRCT scans are effective in identifying multiple comorbidities in COPD patients, which can improve their clinical management.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the utility of HRCT in detecting a wide range of comorbidities in COPD patients beyond standard assessments.

Findings

Chest HRCT identified comorbidities in 96% of COPD patients, with 68% having three or more.

Common comorbidities included coronary artery calcification (66%) and osteoporosis (83%).

Most patients (69%) were classified as GOLD type E, indicating severe COPD.

Abstract

Purpose: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition often accompanied by various comorbidities that significantly affect patient outcomes. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has emerged as a valuable tool for diagnosing and managing COPD-related comorbidities. This study aimed to explore the impact of chest computed tomography (CT) imaging in identifying and characterizing comorbidities in COPD patients. Methods: The study was conducted on 99 patients with COPD, the median age of the study population was 70.0 years (Q1–Q3: 62.0–75.0); 86% were men (85), and 14% were women (14). All patients underwent chest HRCT to identify the presence of comorbidities. Results: According to the GOLD classification (ABE groups), 3% were type A, 27% were type B, and 69% were type E. The prevalence of comorbidities identified on chest HRCT was reported as 66% for coronary artery calcification (CAC), 83% for osteoporosis, 36% for pulmonary artery enlargement (PAE), 31% for emphysema, 19% for bronchiectasis, 17% for hiatal hernia, 14% for lung cancer, 12% pulmonary infections, and 3% for interstitial abnormalities. In 4%, there were no comorbidities, one comorbidity was found in 11%, two comorbidities in 17%, and three comorbidities and more in 68% of cases. Conclusions: Chest HRCT imaging serves as a valuable tool for identifying and assessing comorbidities in patients with COPD. Incorporating chest CT imaging into the routine evaluation of COPD patients may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of their condition and lead to better clinical outcomes.

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