Value of Lung Ultrasound Sonography B-Lines Quantification as a Marker of Heart Failure in COPD Exacerbation

Introduction: Identifying heart failure (HF) in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) can be challenging. Lung ultrasound sonography (LUS) B-lines quantification has recently gained a large place in the diagnosis of HF, but its diagnostic performance in AECOPD remains poorly studied.
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the contribution of LUS B-lines score (LUS score) in the diagnosis of HF in AECOPD patients.
Patients and methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional multicenter cohort study including patients admitted to the emergency department for AECOPD. All included patients underwent LUS. A lung ultrasound score (LUS score) based on B-lines calculation was assessed. A cardiac origin of dyspnea was retained for a LUS score greater than 15. HF diagnosis was based on clinical examination, pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels, and echocardiographic findings. The LUS score diagnostic performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio at the best cutoffs.
Results: We included 380 patients, mean age was 68± 11.6 years, sex ratio (M/F) 1.96. Patients were divided into two groups: the HF group [n=157 (41.4%)] and the non-HF group [n=223 (58.6%)]. Mean LUS score was higher in the HF group (26.8± 8.4 vs 15.3± 7.1; p< 0.001). The mean LUS score in the HF patients with reduced LVEF was 29.2± 8.7, and was 24.5± 7.6 in the HF patients with preserved LVEF. LUS score area under ROC curve for the diagnosis of HF was 0.71 [0.65– 0.76]. The best sensitivity (89% [85.9– 92,1]) was observed at the threshold of 5; the best specificity (85% [81.4– 88.6]) was observed at the threshold of 30. Correlation between LUS score and E/E’ ratio was good (R=0.46, p=0.0001).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that LUS score could be helpful and should be considered in the diagnostic approach of HF in AECOPD patients, at least as a ruling in test.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, heart failure, dyspnea, lung ultrasound sonography