title: Meta-analysis of routine blood tests as predictors of mortality in COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine whether routine blood tests can be useful in predicting mortality in COPD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible studies were found through a search conducted in the PubMed and Embase databases, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Knowledge. Twelve studies were included for the meta-analysis of five biochemical markers. Pooled odds ratios (ORs), matching 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values for each of the biochemical markers were calculated using the random effect model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following four examined biochemical markers were shown to be associated with mortality in patients suffering from COPD: anemia (OR=2.62, 95% CI: 1.60; 4.29, p=0.01), hypoalbuminemia (OR=2.90, 95% CI: 1.56; 5.40, p=0.0008), elevated NT-proBNP (OR=7.54, 95% CI: 4.04; 14.10, p<0.00001), and elevated cardiac troponin T (OR=3.10, 95% CI: 1.11; 8.25, p=0.03). hs-CRP was not found to be associated with increased mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we found that anemia, hypoalbuminemia, elevated NT-proBNP, and elevated cardiac troponin T were associated with increased mortality in patients suffering from COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Frederikke K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Lomholt
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Laulund
authors.affiliation: Department of Lung Transplantation, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nina H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Bjarnason
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nina Skavlan
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Godtfredsen
keywords: COPD; blood tests; meta-analysis; mortality