Study of serum Ykl-40 level and its relationship to BODE index in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant global health concern characterized by growing rates of mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the serum YKL-40 level and its relationship to body mass index (BMI), obstruction of airflow, dyspnea, exercise capacity (BODE) index, and the extent of COPD. This prospective work was carried out on 70 adult male patients, allocated into three groups: group A—36 smokers with stable COPD with different degrees of severity; group B—19 smokers without COPD; and group C—15 healthy non-smokers as a control group. The BODE index was 5.56 ± 2.52. Prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FVC were substantially decreased in group A contrasted to group B and group C (P value < 0.001). Prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio was substantially decreased in group A contrasted to groups B and C and lower in group B than in group C (P value < 0.001). Chest X-ray (CXR) signs of COPD and mMRC Dyspnea Scale were significantly higher in group A than in groups B and C (P value < 0.001). The 6-min walking test was substantially decreased in group A than in groups B and C and lower in group B than in group C (P value < 0.001 and 0.006 correspondingly). Serum YKL-40 was substantially greater in group A contrasted to group C (P value = 0.005). There was no correlation between serum YKL-40 and (BODE index, O2 saturation, or smoking index) in group A. A substantial positive association existed among serum YKL-40 and [degree of severity and white blood cells (WBCs)] in group A. Serum YKL-40 cannot predict the severity of COPD (P = 0.227 and AUC = 0.584) at cut-off > 0.394 with 80.65% sensitivity, 41.03% specificity, 52.1% PPV, and 72.7% NPV. Serum YKL-40 level was substantially greater in the COPD group contrasted to healthy non-smokers, no substantial association existed between serumYKL-40 and BODE index, O2 saturation, or smoking index. A substantial positive association existed between SerumYKL-40 and the degree of severity and WBCs.