ASSOCIATION OF CASPASE-8 LEVELS WITH RESPIRATORY PARAMETERS AND PRESENCE OF HYPERTENSION IN COPD PATIENTS

The aim: To investigate the association between hypertension and serum Caspase-8 levels in COPD patients. Materials and methods: 95 COPD patients (GOLD 2nd grade, group B) were included in the study: 47 non-hypertensive COPD patients formed the main group, and 48 patients with concomitant COPD and hypertension formed the comparison group. Patients underwent examination according to GOLD 2022 Guidelines. Caspase-8 serum levels were measured by ELISA. Results: Performed analysis showed that an increase in Caspase-8 serum levels was significantly associated with the presence of concomitant hypertension in both univariate and multivariate analyses. A significant association was also found regarding FEV1 levels but not FVC. Conclusions: Both presence of concomitant hypertension and spirometry parameters, which indicate the severity of COPD, can be considered strong predictors of the intensification of apoptosis in COPD patients.