ABSTRACT

To investigate the correlation between serum troponin elevation and vital signs, arterial blood gases, length of stay, prognosis in patients admitted to the emergency department with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This prospective study was performed on 100 COPD patients admitted to the Dicle University Hospital Emergency Department between January 2008 and June 2008. Ki square test was used for univariate analyses of categorical variables, Mann-Whitney U Test was used for continuous variables.

In our study, 11% of patients were in the elevated sTnI group. Elevation of sTnI had no statistical relation with vital signs, electrocardiographic datas or arterial blood gases. Elevation of sTnI had no statistical relation with length of stay (p=0.863), ICU admission (p=0.619) or mortality (p=0.061).

High sTnI in COPD patients has no predictive value for length of stay, ICU admission and prognosis.

Keywords: Troponin, mortality, COPD, arterial blood gases