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Updated: Nov 5, 2025
Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice
Published on: March 17, 2014
Chronic bronchial infection and incident cardiovascular events in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A
Miguel Ángel Martinez-Garcia1,2, Rosa Faner2,3, Grace Oscullo1
1Respiratory Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Insights
Chronic bronchial infection (CBI) in COPD patients is linked to increased systemic inflammation and a higher risk of cardiovascular events, especially coronary ones. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infections showed a stronger association.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Cardiology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases are common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Chronic bronchial infection (CBI) is prevalent in COPD and linked to systemic inflammation, a cardiovascular risk factor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between CBI, systemic inflammation, and incident cardiovascular events in COPD patients.
Main Methods:
- Post hoc analysis of a prospective cohort of 201 COPD patients (GOLD II-IV) over 84 months.
- CBI defined as ≥3 positive sputum cultures annually; systemic inflammation assessed by C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.
- Cardiovascular events (coronary, cerebrovascular, arrhythmia) were prospectively recorded.
Main Results:
- CBI was associated with persistent systemic inflammation and significantly higher incidence of CV events (HR: 3.88).
- The association was mainly with coronary events, independent of various confounders.
- Patients with CBI by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) showed particularly significant associations.
Conclusions:
- CBI, especially by PA, is linked to sustained inflammation and increased cardiovascular event risk in COPD.
- Further interventional studies are warranted to explore if treating CBI can reduce systemic inflammation and CV events.
Background And Objective:
Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are frequent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Likewise, chronic bronchial infection (CBI) is also frequent in COPD and it is associated with systemic inflammation, a well-known CV risk factor. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between CBI, systemic inflammation and incident CV events.
Methods:
A post hoc analysis of prospectively collected cohort of 201 COPD patients [Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) II-IV] followed up every 3-6 months for 84 months was conducted. CBI was defined as ≥3 positive pathogenic microorganisms sputum cultures over 1 year, separated by ≥3 months. Systemic inflammation was assessed by circulating levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. Fatal and non-fatal CV events, including coronary and cerebrovascular events as well as arrhythmia episodes, were prospectively recorded. For analysis, they were analysed separately and combined in a composite variable.
Results:
As hypothesized, CBI was associated with persistent systemic inflammation and a significantly higher incidence of CV events (HR: 3.88; 95% CI: 1.83-8.22), mainly of coronary origin independent of age, number and severity of exacerbations, comorbidities, other CV risk factors, lung function, BMI, smoking status and treatments. These associations were particularly significant in patients with CBI by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA).
Conclusion:
CBI, particularly by PA, is associated with sustained and enhanced systemic inflammation and a higher incidence of CV events (especially coronary events). The possibility that treating CBI may decrease systemic inflammation and CV events in COPD deserves prospective, interventional studies.
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