The CT pulmonary vascular parameters and disease severity in COPD patients on acute exacerbation: a correlation analysis

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to analyze the CT pulmonary vascular parameters and disease severity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients to provide evidence support for the management of COPD. METHODS: COPD patients on acute exacerbation admitted to our hospital from COPD patients from January 2019 to March 2020 was selected. The characteristics and ratio of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of small pulmonary vessels to the total area of the lung field, and the ratio of pulmonary artery and aorta (PA/A) cross-sectional diameter in patients with COPD were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 128 COPD patients were included. There were significant differences in the duration of COPD, smoking history, the PaO(2), PaCO(2), pH, and FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC among COPD patients with different severity (all p < 0.05). The duration of COPD, smoking, PaO(2), PaCO(2), CSA and PA/A were correlated with the COPD severity (all p < 0.05). Both CSA, PA/A were correlated with post BD FEV1 (all p < 0.05). The cutoff value of CSA and PA/A for the diagnosis of severe COPD was 0.61 and 0.87 respectively, and the AUC of CSA and PA/A for the diagnosis of severe COPD was 0.724 and 0.782 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CSA ≤ 0.61 and PA/A ≥ 0.87 may have higher risks for severe COPD, and more studies are needed in the future to further elucidate the management of COPD.