Endothelial dysfunction is associated with impaired lung function in two independent community cohorts

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Prior research on endothelial dysfunction and lung function has been limited by small sample sizes and inconsistent findings.
• Endothelial dysfunction, a condition where blood vessels do not dilate properly, is increasingly recognized as a factor in various diseases.
• Impaired lung function, even in its early stages, may be associated with systemic vascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between endothelial function and lung function in two large, community-based cohorts.
• To determine if endothelial dysfunction is present in individuals with sub-clinical lung function impairments.

Main Methods:

• A discovery/replication approach was used, involving the POEM (n=490) and PIVUS (n=892) cohorts.
• Endothelial function was assessed using invasive forearm techniques (endothelium-dependent vasodilation [EDV], endothelium-independent vasodilation [EIDV]) and noninvasive flow-mediated dilation (FMD).
• Lung function was measured using spirometry, specifically forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between lower EDV and lower FEV1 in the POEM cohort, which was replicated in the PIVUS cohort.
• After combining cohorts and adjusting for confounders, a 1 SD decrease in EDV was associated with a 1.57% decrease in FEV1.
• The association was stronger in current/previous smokers and in men, indicating potential moderating factors.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests that individuals with sub-clinical lung function impairments in the community also exhibit endothelial dysfunction.
• These findings highlight a potential link between vascular health and early lung function decline.
• Endothelial function may serve as an early indicator or contributor to impaired lung function.