USCOM For Assessing Patients With COPD

Objective The Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor (USCOM) is a non-invasive, quantitative method for measuring and monitoring cardiovascular haemodynamic parameters in patients. The aims of this study are: 1. To investigate whether there is any correlation between haemodynamic parameters and COPD severity. 2. To investigate whether USCOM-derived haemodynamic variables may be used as prognostic indicators of 6-month, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year readmission. 3. To investigate whether USCOM-derived haemodynamic variables may be used as prognostic indicators of 6-month, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year all-cause mortality. Design, Setting and Subjects This prospective observational study will be conducted in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong. Interventions Haemodynamic measurements made using the USCOM, and spirometry, will be performed as appropriate on subjects in respiratory clinic, the emergency department, medical wards and on ICU. In order to assess inter-observer variability, a second, blinded operator will repeated 15% of scans.