Comparison of Serum CRP, Total Cholesterol, Magnesium and Uric Acid in Smoker and Non Smoker Patients with COPD: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common and treatable disease characterised by progressive airflow limitation and tissue destruction. Smoking is a common risk factor but non smokers can also develop COPD. There may be change in serum level of inflammatory marker, oxidative stress markers, bio-markers among these patients. In this study smoker and non smoker group in COPD patients studied and may helpful for comparing levels and to corelate with severity of disease and also for group specific management.

Aim: To evaluate the level of Serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP), total cholesterol, Magnesium (Mg++), and uric acid in COPD patients and also, to compare these parameters in smoker and non smoker patients with COPD.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Biochemistry and Department of Pulmonary Medicine at People’s College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, from October 2021 to December 2022. A total of 100 COPD patients, aged between 40 to 60 years were included and divided into two groups: 50 smokers and 50 non smokers. Parameters such as CRP, Mg++, total cholesterol and uric acid, were estimated by autoanalyser. Data were statistically analysed using unpaired t-test.

Results: In smokers, mean age was 53.08±5.89 years, whereas in non smokers, mean age was 53.9±4.84 years. Out of the 100 subjects, 50 were smokers (F=6 and M=44) and 50 were non smokers (F=6 and M=44). In the present study, observed increased CRP levels and cholesterol levels, low serum magnesium, and normal uric acid in smoker compared to non smokers COPD. There was significant difference in cholesterol (p-value=0.044), serum magnesium (p-value=0.001) and CRP levels (p-value=0.0001) but there was no significant difference in uric acid (p-value=0.989).

Conclusion: Smokers with COPD had increased level of CRP, Cholesterol and low level of Magnesium as compared to non smoker COPD patients. This may attribute that smokers COPD patients are in risk of developing recurrent exacerbations and more disease severity.