Evaluation of platelet indices among patients with exacerbation of COPD in a tertiary care center in South India

Introduction: Mean platelet volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) is a relatively simple, inexpensive tool that indicates the platelets size, the rate of platelet production, platelet activation and the severity of inflammation since inflammation plays an important role in COPD, any alteration in platelet activity can cause alteration in MPV. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) reflects morphology of erythrocytes whereas RDW can also vary due to systemic inflammation and ineffective erythropoiesis. Hence we aimed to study Platelet indices in patients with exacerbation of COPD. Aim and objectives: Our aim is to evaluate the role of platelet Indices in COPD patients. Since only limited data were available on the relationship between COPD and platelet indices, we aimed to evaluate and find out the correlation between Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW), Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) and Plateletcrit (PCT) in exacerbation of COPD patients at a tertiary care hospital in south India. Materials and methods: A total of 135 subjects, 79 men and 56 women, who were admitted in our hospital with exacerbation of COPD during a period of one year were enrolled in this prospective observational study. The levels of MPW, RDW, PDW and PCT were assessed during the course of hospital stay in patients with COPD exacerbation Results: In our study we found out that there exists a statistical significance among male and female COPD exacerbation patients with respect to Mean Platelet Volume (P=<0.0001) and Red Cell Distribution Width (P=<0.0001). There also exists statistical significance between our COPD patients with other study stable controls (p=<0.005). Using ROC curve, considering optimal level of MPV <8.8Fl, male population showed sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 85% with Average age in men with diagnosed COPD is 49 and average age of female COPD patient is 55. Conclusion: Our study suggests that Mean Platelet Volume and Red Cell Distribution Width values may be useful for identifying patients who are at high risk for exacerbation of COPD. RDW per se is an important risk factor for Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and elevated RDW may suggest increase in risk of IHD in patients with COPD.