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COPD and co-morbidities, with special emphasis on cardiovascular conditions

Claes-Göran Löfdahl1

  • 1Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. claes-goran.lofdahl@med.lu.se

The Clinical Respiratory Journal
|March 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is linked to systemic conditions like heart failure and diabetes. Managing COPD systemic inflammation may reduce cardiovascular events.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasingly recognized as a systemic disease.
  • COPD morbidity and mortality are strongly associated with comorbid conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on the relationship between COPD and comorbid conditions.
  • To explore the mechanistic links between COPD, systemic inflammation, and cardiovascular events.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on COPD comorbidities.
  • Analysis of prevalence data for cardiac failure and metabolic syndrome in COPD patients.
  • Examination of the role of systemic inflammation in COPD-related cardiovascular events.

Main Results:

  • Cardiac failure affects 10-46% of COPD patients; 40% of heart failure patients have undiagnosed COPD.
  • COPD patients have an increased risk of arteriosclerotic manifestations and cardiac complications.
  • Low FEV(1) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases; systemic inflammation in COPD may link to cardiovascular events.

Conclusions:

  • COPD is a systemic disease with significant cardiovascular comorbidities.
  • Systemic inflammation in COPD may contribute to cardiovascular events.
  • Anti-inflammatory treatments in COPD could potentially reduce cardiovascular events.

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