European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

BACKGROUND This study was conductedto assess the BODE index (Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise capacity) in order to forecast the severity of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patients' condition and its relationship to pulmonary hypertension.METHODS This was a hospital-based cross-sectional prospective study conducted among 81 patientsclinically diagnosed to have COPD at the Department of General Medicine, Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, from February 2021 to September 2022, after obtaining clearance from the institutional ethics committee and written informed consent from the study participants. RESULTS The majority,i.e., 35.8% of the patients had mild PHT, followed by 33.3% with severe pulmonary hypertension, according to ECHO findings. According to BODE index scoring, 48.1% of COPD patients attending the hospital had mild severity, and 30.9% had severe COPD. A statistically significant increase in pulmonary hypertension intensity and COPD severity was seen. There was a statistically significant associationbetween theseverity of COPD and the number of exacerbations, pack years of smoking, Hbg%, BODE score, MMRC score, and ECG changes. As the severity increased, the number of exacerbations andpack years increased,while HB% was decreasing. No association with BMI, height, or weight was seen. ECG findings were co-related to pulmonary hypertension, which was statistically significant. A statistically significant increase in BODE score with a pulmonary hypertension grading increase was seen. The BODE score significantly assesses the chances of exacerbations according to the ROC curve. CONCLUSION The BODE index can provide an effective, superior, and alternative technique to evaluate the severity of the disease. It may also assist in patient follow-up. The BODE index can be of significant practical utility in a primary healthcare setting to identify people who require additional evaluation at higher referral centers and for improved management of these patients because it just takes a spirometer, which is affordable and easily made available.