Cardiovascular Diseases in COPD: From Diagnosis and Prevalence to Therapy

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.

Correlation between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), A cross-sectional study in Syrian Patients

“…Despite the majority of participants consuming moderate daily meals of three servings, 40% suffer from acid re ux. This is due to their lack of attention to the nature of food, as highlighted by Carolyn Newberry and her colleague in an article published in 2019, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the type of food and avoiding acidic, sugary, and fatty foods due to their negative impact and increased likelihood of acid re ux [15].…”

Systemic Manifestations of COPD and the Impact of Dual Bronchodilation with Tiotropium/Olodaterol on Cardiac Function and Autonomic Integrity

“…As COPD shares risk factors with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and tends to impair cardiac function through different mechanisms, such as increased intrathoracic pressure, hypoxia, oxidative stress and systemic inflammation [2,17], cardiovascular morbidity is more frequent in people with COPD than in the general population [18]. Moreover, it has been observed that among patients with COPD, cardiovascular morbidities lead to more hospitalizations and deaths than COPD itself [19].…”