ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation and clinical significance of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels with cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and provide new idea for the prevention and treatment for cognitive dysfunction in COPD patients.MethodsA total of 103 COPD patients, according to the Montreal cognitive assessment scale standard for evaluation, were divided into a cognitive dysfunction group and a cognitive normal group. Serum 8-OHdG and ET-1 levels were compared between the two groups and their correlations with cognitive function were analyzed with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsThe levels of serum 8-OHdG and ET-1 in the COPD patients with cognitive impairment were significantly higher than those in the cognitive normal group ［8-OHdG: (13.91±9.04) ng/ml vs. (7.28±3.00) ng/ml; ET-1: (95.64±57.66)pg/ml vs. (69.20±7.89)pg/ml］ (both P<0.05). The levels of 8-OHdG (OR=22.94, 95%CI 7.06-74.53) and ET-1 (OR=19.76, 95%CI 6.59-59.31) were associated with cognitive impairment in the COPD patients. The areas under ROC curve of serum 8-OHdG and ET-1 levels to predict cognitive dysfunction in the COPD patients were 0.786 (95%CI 0.691-0.881) and 0.790(95%CI 0.695-0.885).ConclusionsThe serum levels of 8-OHdG and ET-1 are associated with cognitive impairment in COPD patients. The levels of 8-OHdG and ET-1 in serum can predict cognitive impairment with high specificity.