Cardiovascular Morbidity in Individuals with Impaired FEV1

This review is intended to give an overview of the epidemiology of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with impaired lung function with an emphasis on patients with COPD.

Despite shared risk factors, lung disease is an emerging independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cardio-vascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Both CVD and chronic lung disease contribute significantly to overall mortality. Especially patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at high risk for CVD-related mortality. In patients with chronic lung disease, a low index of suspicion should be maintained to assess for CVD and vice versa. Early detection of chronic lung disease as a potentially modifiable CVD risk factor could have important impact on patient outcomes.