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Cardiovascular Diseases in COPD: From Diagnosis and Prevalence to Therapy
Anastasia Papaporfyriou1, Konstantinos Bartziokas2, Daniela Gompelmann1
1Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Insights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly increases cardiovascular disease risk due to shared factors and inflammation. Managing these intertwined conditions is crucial for improving patient survival and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality.
- Cardiovascular comorbidities are frequent in COPD patients due to shared risk factors and COPD-induced systemic inflammation.
- These comorbidities complicate COPD management and negatively impact patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities in COPD patients.
- To explore the pathophysiological interactions between COPD and cardiovascular diseases.
- To summarize the impact of comorbidities on COPD exacerbations, quality of life, and survival.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on COPD and cardiovascular disease interaction.
- Analysis of evidence on shared risk factors and systemic inflammation.
- Synthesis of data on treatment effects and comorbidity impact.
Main Results:
- COPD patients exhibit a high prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities.
- Systemic inflammation in COPD detrimentally affects the cardiovascular system.
- Cardiovascular events risk increases during COPD exacerbations and persists post-recovery.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular comorbidities significantly influence COPD prognosis, affecting exacerbations, quality of life, and survival.
- Understanding the interplay between COPD and cardiovascular disease is vital for effective patient management.
- Further research is needed to optimize integrated treatment strategies.
Abstract:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered one of the leading causes of mortality. Cardiovascular comorbidities are diagnosed often in COPD patients, not only because of the common risk factors these two diseases share, but also because of the systemic inflammation which characterizes COPD and has deleterious effects in the cardiovascular system. The comorbid cardiovascular diseases in COPD result in several difficulties in the holistic treatment of these patients and affect outcomes such as morbidity and mortality. Several studies have reported that mortality from cardiovascular causes is common among COPD patients, while the risk for acute cardiovascular events increases during COPD exacerbations and remains high for a long time even after recovery. In this review, we focus on the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities in COPD patients, presenting the evidence regarding the interaction of the pathophysiological pathways which characterize each disease. Furthermore, we summarize information regarding the effects of cardiovascular treatment on COPD outcomes and vice versa. Finally, we present the current evidence regarding the impact of cardiovascular comorbidities on exacerbations, quality of life and survival of COPD patients.
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