Metabolic Syndrome in Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Gender Differences and Impact on Exacerbation and Medical Costs

• Main Authors: Choi HS, Rhee CK, Park YB, Yoo KH, Lim SY
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2019-12-01
• Series: International Journal of COPD
• Subjects: copd exacerbation; metabolic syndrome
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/metabolic-syndrome-in-early-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-gend-peer-reviewed-article-COPD
• ISSN: 1178-2005

Hye Sook Choi,1 Chin Kook Rhee,2 Yong Bum Park,3,4 Kwang Ha Yoo,5 Seong Yong Lim6 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea; 2Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; 3Lung Research Institute of Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea; 4Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; 5Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea; 6Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaCorrespondence: Seong Yong LimDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 06652, South KoreaTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a well-known comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, their interrelationship, particularly in early COPD, remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of MetS in patients with early COPD, and to explore the impact of MetS on the frequency of COPD exacerbations and associated medical costs.Patients and methods: We retrospectively enrolled 43,874 subjects from the KNHANES, including 2164 patients with early COPD (≥40 years old), recorded smoking history, and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease spirometric grade I or II, with data linked to the NHI database. We extracted and analyzed data regarding health-care utilization and medical costs for 5 years (2007 to 2012).Results: Among 2164 patients with early COPD, the prevalence of MetS was 31.2%, and it was higher in women than in men (35.1% vs. 26.6%; P<0.001). Patients with MetS were older and had lower pulmonary function and greater number of comorbidities. The frequency of moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations for 5 years was significantly higher in women with MetS than in those without MetS (5.8/year vs. 4.9/year; P=0.02). After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk for moderate-to-severe exacerbation was significantly greater in women with MetS (IRR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.36; P=0.03). COPD exacerbations leading to hospitalization and medical expenses were also higher in women with MetS than in those without MetS.Conclusion: MetS is more prevalent in women with early COPD. MetS increased the frequency of exacerbations and the medical costs in women with early COPD.Keywords: COPD exacerbation, metabolic syndrome