Prognosis of chronic obstructive lung disease in relation to radiology and electrocardiogram

Survival in relation to radiological and electrocardiographical changes was examined in a retrospective study of 228 hospital patients aged 40-69 years with a FEV1 of 1.5 1 or less, and a FEV1 of 70% or less of the vital capacity due to chronic obstructive lung disease. The only radiological changes which influenced survival after 4 years were enlarged heart and pronounced dilatation of the pulmonary artery. Thirty-eight percent of the patients with normal ECG but with pronounced dilatation of the pulmonary artery were alive after 4 years. In patients with normal ECG and normal or moderate dilatation of the pulmonary artery about 80% had survived after 4 years. There was only 18% survival after 4 years in patients with abnormal ECG and pronounced dilatation of the pulmonary artery and/or with enlarged heart, and only 6% in patients from age group 60-69. In patients with abnormal ECG without enlarged heart and without pronounced dilatation of the pulmonary artery 50-63% had survived after 4 years. Pulmonary hyperinflation was not important for survival during the first 4 years.