Disease-Specific Comorbidity Clusters in COPD and Accelerated Aging

Filip J. J. Triest, Frits M. E. Franssen, Niki Reynaert, Swetlana Gaffron, Martijn A. Spruit, Daisy J. A. Janssen, Erica P. A. Rutten, Emiel F. M. Wouters, Lowie E. G. W. Vanfleteren*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often suffer from multiple morbidities, which occur in clusters and are sometimes related to accelerated aging. This study aimed to assess the disease specificity of comorbidity clusters in COPD and their association with a biomarker of accelerated aging as a potential mechanistic factor. Methods: Body composition, metabolic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and psychological morbidities were objectively evaluated in 208 COPD patients (age 62 +/- 7 years, 58% males, FEV1 50 +/- 16% predicted) and 200 non-COPD controls (age 61 +/- 7 years, 45% males). Based on their presence and severity, the morbidities were clustered to generate distinct clusters in COPD and controls. Telomere length in circulating leukocytes was compared across the clusters. Results: (co)morbidities were more prevalent in COPD patients compared to controls (3.9 +/- 1.7 vs. 2.4 +/- 1.5, p <0.05). A Psychologic and Cachectic cluster were only present in the COPD population. Less (co)morbidity, Cardiovascular, and Metabolic clusters were also observed in controls, although with less complexity. Telomere length was reduced in COPD patients, but did not differ between the (co)morbidity clusters in both populations. Conclusions: Two COPD-specific comorbidity clusters, a Cachectic and Psychologic cluster, were identified and warrant further studies regarding their development. Accelerated aging was present across various multimorbidity clusters in COPD.

Original languageEnglish
Article number511
Pages (from-to)1-18
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Clinical Medicine
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • comorbidity
  • multimorbidity
  • cluster
  • COPD
  • accelerated aging
  • telomere length
  • OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE
  • BODY-MASS INDEX
  • TELOMERE LENGTH
  • ARTERIAL STIFFNESS
  • CIRCULATING LEUKOCYTES
  • CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE
  • SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION
  • INSULIN-RESISTANCE
  • METABOLIC SYNDROME
  • DEPRESSION

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