Background: A preventable and curable condition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has certain notable extrapulmonary side effects that might increase a patient's severity. Airflow restriction that is not entirely reversible is a characteristic of its pulmonary component. The airflow restriction is often progressive and linked to an aberrant lung inflammatory response to harmful gasses or panicles.
Objective: To assess the impact of hypophosphatemia on cases experiencing acute exacerbations of COPD, focusing on exacerbation severity, mechanical ventilation (MV) requirements, ventilation duration, and patient outcomes.
Patients and Methods: This observational research was conducted on 50 cases with acute exacerbation of COPD who were hospitalized to the Intensive Care Department of Ain Shams University.
Results: In older males who smoked heavily and for a long time, the severity of COPD exacerbations and the necessity for ventilation rose. Ventilation was more necessary when PaCO2 levels were high. The severity of a COPD exacerbation and the requirement for ventilation were both enhanced by hypophosphatemia in the absence of other electrolyte deficiencies. Additionally, our findings demonstrated that hypophosphatemia was linked to prolonged ventilation, poor outcomes, and a high mortality rate because it weakened the diaphragmatic and respiratory muscles, which resulted in weaning failure and, ultimately, death. While multiple electrolyte shortage without hypophosphatemia had no influence on the requirement for MV, length of MV, or outcome, hypophosphatemia combined with multiple electrolyte deficiency exacerbated these factors and led to a poor result.
Conclusion: Hypophosphatemia exacerbates the severity of COPD exacerbations, necessitates MV, prolongs MV duration, contributes to weaning failure, and therefore elevates death rates. Additionally, the demand for ventilation increased when hypophosphatemia and various electrolyte deficiencies were present.