ECG abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation: can the ECG record still astound us? A prospective study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a pulmonary disease characterized by persistent respiratory difficulties and impaired airflow. COPD patients have a higher risk for lung infections, like the flu or pneumonia, lung cancer, heart problems, weak muscles, brittle bones, depression, and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ECG abnormalities in patients with COPD experiencing exacerbations. The research encompassed a cohort of 832 individuals diagnosed with COPD who encountered episodes of exacerbations. Five hundred seventy-five (69.11%) of the included participants were women, and 257 (30.89%) were men. The included participants ranged from 18 to 60 years old. It was ensured that none of the participants had received any treatment for their condition for more than 3 days. Based on the level of exacerbation severity, the patient population is categorized into three distinct groups: moderate, comprising 330 (39.66%) individuals; severe, encompassing 406 (48.79%) individuals; and extremely severe, consisting of 96 (11.53%) individuals. During episodes of exacerbation in patients with COPD, the following ECG alterations were observed: a QTc less than 0.40 s in 99.15% of cases, a transitional ECG zone in 74.33% of cases, a P more than 2.5 mm in 45.67% of cases, an axis deviation towards the second quadrant (axis II) in 28% of cases, an incomplete right bundle branch block in 26.32% of cases, and a full right bundle branch block in 25.60% of cases. Regardless of prior cardiac pathology, ECG is a low-cost, quick, and dependable modality for detecting ischemic changes in people experiencing a flare-up of COPD.