REVIEW   

Minerva Medica 2023 February;114(1):68-73

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.22.07742-4

Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The interplay between diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Annalisa FRIZZELLI ✉, Marina AIELLO, Luigino CALZETTA, Giuseppina BERTORELLI, Alfredo CHETTA

Unit of Respiratory Disease and Lung Function, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common and chronic disorders. COPD is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities and it is considered currently the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. DM is a systemic disease characterized by a chronic hyperglycemia associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. The relationship between the two conditions is not completely understood and conflicting results are reported in the literature. Many studies have investigated the mechanisms through with the respiratory disease is associated with an increased risk of metabolic condition or whether the incidence risk of COPD in individuals affected by DM is higher. The link between the two chronic conditions has relevant implications in the management of patients affected by the both of them. Respiratory patients should be screened for diabetes mellitus as a frequent comorbidity of lung disease since therapeutic options should be assessed about risk-to-benefit ratios associated with the indication for the steroid use. Furthermore, the role of hyperglycemia on pulmonary function (e.g. infection or inflammatory processes) should be evaluated in DM. Finally, in presence of both diseases potential treatment interactions should be considered. In this overview we explored the common aspects of both clinical chronic illnesses and investigated the interplay between the two conditions.

KEY WORDS: Diabetes mellitus; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Hyperglycemia; Inflammation; Oxidative stress