Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: To assess correlation of neutrophil to lymphocyte with acute exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Material and Methods: Eighty AECOPD and eighty patients of stable period of COPD of both genders were randomly divided into 2 groups. Parameters such as SES, symptoms, neutrophils, lymphocytes, GOLD stage and mMRC grade was recorded. Results: There were 50 males and 30 females in group I and 46 males and 34 females in group II. SES was upper in 4 in group I and 5 in group II, middle in 46 and 40 and lower in 30 and 35. Symptoms were breathlessness in 45 and 33, expectoration in 56 and 51, cough in 45 and 56, wheezing in 32 and 23 and chest pain in 17 and 34. GOLD stage A was seen in 8 and 6, B in 10 and 12, C in 28 and 30 and D in 34 and 32, mMRC grade 3 was seen in 32 and 36 and grade 4 was seen in 48 and 44 in group I and II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). The mean neutrophil count was 11.4 in group I and 6.5 in group II, lymphocytes was 2.3 in group I and 1.1 in group II and NLR was 5.4 in group I and 3.6 in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The neutrophil lymphocyte ratio on the day of presenting the illness was significantly higher in AECOPD. NLR is readily available and simple parameter, could also be used as a cost-effective marker of inflammation in AECOPD.