Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026
Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension and Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in the Piglet
Published on: November 4, 2015
Left ventricular dysfunction in relation with systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
Sule Tas Gulen1, Ufuk Eryilmaz2, Mustafa Yilmaz3
1Department of Chest Diseases, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) impacts left ventricular function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, even before clinical symptoms appear. Echocardiographic findings correlate with COPD functional status, highlighting the link between respiratory and cardiac health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Understanding the subclinical cardiac impact of COPD is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess echocardiographic parameters in COPD patients with and without pre-existing CVD.
- To investigate the relationship between echocardiographic findings and systemic inflammation markers in COPD.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography was used to measure left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic function in 60 stable COPD patients (23 with CVD, 37 without) and 21 controls.
- Systemic inflammation markers (HsCRP, IL-8, fetuin-A, CCL-16, NT-proBNP) and functional tests (6MWT, CAT, BODE index) were evaluated.
Main Results:
- COPD patients exhibited elevated systemic inflammation and lower fetuin-A levels.
- Patients with COPD and CVD showed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and increased left ventricular dimensions (LVED, LVES) compared to those without CVD.
- Aortic diameter was larger in COPD patients, and fetuin-A correlated with aortic and LVES diameters. LVEF, LVED, and LVES correlated with COPD functional parameters.
Conclusions:
- Left ventricular function is impaired in COPD patients, often preceding overt cardiac symptoms.
- Echocardiographic parameters are significantly correlated with the functional status of COPD patients, underscoring the cardiorespiratory link.
Background/Aims:
Most important cause of mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is known to be cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the echocardiographic parameters in COPD patients with or without pre-diagnosed CVD and to investigate the relationship between echocardiographic parameters and systemic inflammation markers.
Methods:
A total of 60 stable COPD patients (23 patients with CVD, group 1; 37 patients without CVD, group 2) and 21 healthy controls (group 3) were included in the study. Six-minute walking test (6MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT), and Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise (BODE) index results were recorded. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP), interleukin 8 (IL-8), fetuin-A, Clara cell protein (CCL-16), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels were studied in serum. Parameters of left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic function were measured by echocardiography.
Results:
Patients with COPD had higher levels of systemic inflammation markers and lower level of inflammation inhibitor fetuin-A. When three groups were compared, group 1 had lower 6MWT result. HsCRP was highest in group 2 while other inflammatory markers were similar in groups 1 and 2. Regarding echocardiographic parameters, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower and left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVED), left ventricle end-systolic diameter (LVES) diameters were higher in group 1. The aortic diameter was higher in COPD patients. Fetuin-A was correlated with diameter of aorta and LVES. LVEF, LVED, and LVES were found to be correlated with functional parameters of COPD cases.
Conclusion:
In COPD, left ventricular functions are affected as well as right ventricle before prominent clinical findings of cardiac disease and these echocardiographic parameters correlate with functional parameters of COPD patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:29Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
01:30Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Nursing Management
Assessment
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD: