A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON THE CHANGING FREQUENCY OF ECG IN COPD PATIENTS AND ITS SEVERITY

Objective: The aim of this study was to find the ECG abnormalities frequency in COPD patients in terms of severity of the disease. Material and Methods: The design of this Study Design Cross-Sectional Study. The duration of this study was from January 2020 to September 2020 and this study was conducted in Allied / DHQ hospital Faisalabad. Patients reporting to medicine in-patient and outdoor patient department were diagnosed for COPD and made a part of the research excluding those having any cardiac comorbidity, long term therapy of oxygen and diuretics. Research sample population was 343 patients. FEV1 and FVC was determined through spirometry for the grading and classification of COPD severity. ECG abnormalities were found through twelve lead standard ECG apparatus. Results: Mild and moderate COPD was observed in respectively 77 (22.5%) and 121 (35.3%) patients. Severe and very severe pain was observed in respectively 100 (29.2%) and 45 (13.1%) patients. Repeated ECG abnormality was the enlargement of the right atrial in 6 patients (7.8%) mild COPD patients, 27 moderate (22.3%), 48 severe (48%) and 24 very severe (53.3%) patients. The incidence of Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) was observed in 1 mild (1.3%), 7 moderate (5.8%), 19 severe (19%) and 12 very severe (26.7%) patients. The presentation of Sinus tachycardia was observed in 6 mild (7.8%), 17 moderate (14%), 19 severe (19%) and 10 very severe (22.2%) patients. Right bundle branch block incidence was observed was observed in 5 mild (6.5%), 9 moderate (7.4%), 13 severe (13%) and 9 very severe (20%) patients. The incidence of SVT was observed in 1 mild (1.3%), 6 moderate (5%), 10 severe (10%) and 8 very severe (17%) patients. Low voltage ECG was observed in 3 mild (3.9%), 7 moderate (5.8%), 12 severe (12%) and 6 very severe (13.3%) patients. Atrial premature contractions (APCs) were observed in 3 mild (3.9%), 11 moderate (9.1%), 14 severe (14%) and 6 very severe (13.3%) patients. Normal ECG incidence was observed in 54 mild (70.1%), 52 moderate (43%), 14 severe (14%) and 3 very severe (6.7%) patients. Conclusion: In the results of this study multiple complexities in the ECG of COPD patients, which increased as the COPD severity increased. It is therefore recommended that routine of ECG should be continued by the COPD patients. Keywords: Ventricular, Severity, Moderate, Abnormalities, Spirometry