The effect of hypophosphatemia on critically ill patient with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease with some significant extra- pulmonary effects that may contribute to the severity in individual patients. Aim of the Work: evaluate the effect of hypophosphatemia on patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. Patients and Methods: This study was performed on 50 patients with AECOPD admitted at chest department and respiratory ICU in Tanta university hospital in the period between July 2018 and January 2019., serum of phosphorus was measured on admission, hypophosphatemia is considered if serum phosphorus is below 2.5mg/dl. Results: Combination between hyponatremia and hypophosphatemia significantly increased the need for ventilation, duration of ventilation and associated with poor outcome (p value < 0.01), while hyponatremia alone not significantly affect the need for ventilation, duration of ventilation and outcome (p value > 0.05). Conclusion: Hypophosphatemia may increase the severity of COPD exacerbation, need for ventilation, duration of ventilation, weaning failure and so increases the rate of mortality. Combination between hypophosphatemia and hypokalemia or hyponatremia increased the need for ventilation, duration of ventilation and affected outcome badly.