Do people with COPD have compromised immune systems?

[Poi Dog]

I am not a nurse- just a curious CNA.

Thanks.

[FancypantsRN]

That's an interesting question. I have never heard that, I know that the steroids they are sometimes on can lower the immune system. I tried to google it but only found a couple of things that don't seem like the most reliable source.

[merlee]

I don't think there is a direct relationship, but it would be more difficult to deal with respiratory issues, such as pneumonia.

[heathert_kc]

Other than potentially drug therapy the distruction of the cilia then hypersecretion of mucus manifested by the disease disrupts and puts strain on the damaged mucociliary transport which certainly puts them at greater risk of respiratory infections due to the stasis of mucus (there is so much and they have a decreased ability to get rid of it). That to me is a direct relationship, though not to the immune system as a whole, but one route of entry. I read an article the other day in fact about research done that showed most smokers and previous long term smokers have activated an immune response that attempt to kill off diseased portions of the lung, that was not found in their non-smoking age mates.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

Look at their labs when they've been in the hospital for weeks, if you have the opportunity. You often see low lymphocytes, even if the WBC is normal. They often "over produce" RBCs to make up for hypoxia, so when you get one with a low hgb, it's actually lower than the number would make you think because they tend to start higher, and need higher numbers. In general, the blood counts are whacked.

Since a solid 75% of my COPDers still smoke and have a host of comorbidities that they stink at trying to control (CHF, renal failure, DM, hyperlipid, hypercholest, etc.), I think their impaired immune response is 50% COPD, 50% behavioral.

[NursingStudentEMT]

Not directly. As said above, corticosteroids suppress the immune response.

And Heather beat me to the punch. The damaged cilia throughout the respiratory tract lead to the inability to move secretions. The static mucous secretions within the respiratory system are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.