Background: There are no agreed patient characteristics associated with exercise-induced desaturation (EID) in COPD combined with hypertension (HT).

Purpose: to identify associations between various patient characteristics and EID.

Methods: In total, 69 COPD patients (GOLD 2, group B) in remission with HT stage II 55,80±5,51 y.o. (57 m, 12 f) were monitored. All patients underwent general examination, pulse oximetry, spirometry, echocardiography, chest X-ray. We divided patients into 2 groups depending on EID (declining oxygen saturation (SpO₂) during the 6-min walk test (6MWT) ? 4% from baseline).

Results: In group with EID (n=39) females were less common (?=1,78; p<0,05); radiologic findings of emphysema (?=3,51; p<0,01), cor pulmonale signs (?=2,01; p<0,05) and signs of right ventricular diastolic dysfunction were more common (?=2,67; p<0,01); positive relationships (p<0,05) were found between the degree of reduction in SpO₂ (RSpO₂) during the 6MWT and dyspnea level (Borg Scale) before (r=0,62) and after (r=0,63) the 6MWT, fatigue level (VAS) (r=0,68), BODE index (r=0,32), Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) total score (r=0,39), the functional state CCQ domain score (r=0,51); negative correlations (p<0,05) were found between RSpO₂ during the 6MWT and the distance walked in the 6MWT (6MWD) (r=-0,58).
In group without EID (n=30) RSpO₂ during the 6MWT was positively associated (p<0,05) with age (r=0,39), fatigue level (VAS) (r=0,42); negative correlation (p<0,05) were found between RSpO₂ during the 6MWT and the 6MWD (r=-0,46).

Conclusions: Male sex, dyspnea, fatigue, 6MWD, BODE index, quality of life (CCQ) are associated with EID in moderate COPD combined with HT stage II.