Lung Ultrasound With Acute Exacerbation and Stable COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation, chronic respiratory symptoms, and recurrent exacerbations that contribute to substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. Acute exacerbations accelerate disease progression, impair functional capacity, increase dyspnea severity, and worsen quality of life. Early identification of pulmonary abnormalities during exacerbation is therefore essential for optimizing clinical management and improving patient outcomes. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a non-invasive, radiation-free, bedside imaging modality that enables rapid assessment of pulmonary pathology. LUS can identify clinically relevant findings such as B-lines, consolidations, pleural abnormalities, and pleural effusions, making it a valuable complementary tool in the evaluation of respiratory diseases. Because it is portable, repeatable, and safe, LUS is increasingly incorporated into the assessment and monitoring of patients with chronic respiratory disorders, including COPD. Despite these advantages, evidence regarding the role of lung ultrasound in distinguishing acute exacerbation from stable COPD and its relationship with clinical outcomes remains limited. The present study is designed as a cross-sectional comparative study involving three groups: patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, patients with stable COPD, and healthy individuals. Approximately 60 participants will be recruited and undergo standardized assessments. Lung ultrasound will be performed using a 12-zone protocol to evaluate B-line distribution, A-line dominance, lung ultrasound score, consolidations, pleural effusion, and other sonographic abnormalities. Functional status and symptom burden will be assessed using the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test (1STS), Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Charlson Comorbidity Index, BODE Index, and spirometry. The primary objective of this study is to compare lung ultrasound findings, functional capacity, and dyspnea among patients with acute exacerbation COPD, stable COPD, and healthy controls. Additionally, the study aims to determine whether lung ultrasound findings are associated with functional impairment and symptom severity. The results are expected to provide evidence supporting the clinical utility of lung ultrasound as a rapid and comprehensive assessment tool that complements conventional clinical evaluation in COPD and contributes to multidisciplinary management strategies.