Are COPD and cardiovascular disease fundamentally intertwined?

Association of platelet count with all-cause mortality and risk of cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity in stable COPD

“…However, the relationship between platelet count measured in the stable phase of COPD and all-cause mortality has not been previously explored. Furthermore, comorbid COPD and CV disease has been associated with higher rates of morbidity than presence of either disease alone making this a particularly vulnerable population [21]. Using data from the Study to Understand Mortality and Morbidity in COPD (SUMMIT), a prospective randomized controlled trial enriched for presence of CV comorbidity and containing adjudicated events, we investigated post hoc the association of platelet count measured in the stable phase of COPD with all-cause mortality, CV and respiratory outcomes.…”

The role of plasma N-terminal brain natriuretic pro-peptide in diagnosing elderly patients with acute exacerbation of COPD concurrent with left heart failure

“… 28 Moreover, the potential cardiopulmonary interactions may also contribute to the result. 7 In the current study, the plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP in the elderly patients with AECOPD associated with LHF were markedly elevated, as compared with those with AECOPD only. ROC curves for the plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP were obtained as a diagnostic test for LHF in the elderly patients with AECOPD.…”

“…Unfortunately, due to an overlap in clinical presentation between AECOPD and LHF, including exertional dyspnea, easy fatigability, nocturnal cough, wheezing, etc., the timely identification of AECOPD associated with LHF is currently challenging and needs a high degree of clinical suspicion. 5 – 7 In the current study, the majority of the enrolled patients experienced dyspnea or decreased exercise tolerance, and abnormal pulmonary sounds were common. However, clinical examinations with sufficient accuracy to diagnose AECOPD coexisting with LHF are not always available in routine practice.…”

“…Furthermore, AECOPD and left heart failure (LHF) may commonly exist together in clinical settings. 5 , 6 This may be partly owing to the usual association of two disorders sharing the same risk factors, including male predominance in an aging population and cigarette smoking, 6 , 7 and the complex interplay between chronic low-level systemic inflammation and oxidative stress may also attribute to the development of both progressive COPD and LHF. 6 – 9 Consequently, it was hypothesized that the incidence of LHF in elderly patients with AECOPD is probably frequent.…”