Anemia of Chronic Disease in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Case-Control Study of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Responses

Background: Anemia may be present in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and further impair their functional capacity. Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence of anemia of chronic disease (ACD) in COPD patients and its impact on dyspnea and exercise capacity, utilizing cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Methods: ACD prevalence was assessed in 283 consecutive patients with stable COPD (263 males, 60 females; age 60.31 8 5.34 years; percent forced expiratory volume in 1 s 46.94 8 6.12). ACD diagnosis was based on a combination of clinical and laboratory parameters [hemoglobin (Hb) ! 13 g/dl for males, ! 12 g/dl for females; ferritin 1 30 ng/ml; total iron-binding capacity ! 250  g/dl, and transferrin saturation rate between 15 and 50%]. Twenty-seven patients who were identified with ACD (cases) and 27 matched nonanemic patients (controls) completed maximal CPET, and data were compared between the groups. Results: ACD was diagnosed in 29 paReceived: November 29, 2010 Accepted after revision: February 17, 2011 Published online: May 11, 2011 Afroditi K. Boutou, MD, MSc Respiratory Failure Unit Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, ‘G. Papanikolaou Hospital’ GR–57010 Exohi, Thessaloniki (Greece) Tel. +30 2 313 307 265, E-Mail afboutou @ yahoo.com © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel 0025–7931/11/0823–0237$38.00/0 Accessible online at: www.karger.com/res D ow nl oa de d by : 54 .7 0. 40 .1 1 1/ 1/ 20 18 1 1: 54 :4 1 P M