Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease

• Published in: Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine Vol. 162; no. 4; pp. 237 - 251
• Main Authors: Bhatt, Surya P, Dransfield, Mark T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01-10-2013
• Subjects: Age Factors; Cardiovascular Diseases - complications; Humans; Internal Medicine; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - complications; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - epidemiology; Risk Factors; coronary artery disease; CHF; CRP; RR; C-reactive protein; RAS; HR; intima medial thickness; hs; odds ratio; peripheral vascular disease; particulate matter; congestive heart failure; interleukin; computed tomography; cardiovascular disease; IL; OR; CI; CAD; renin angiotensin system; relative risk; CVD; CT; high sensitivity; IMT; FVC; forced expiratory volume in the first second; force vital capacity; hazard ratio; confidence interval; FEV1; PM; COPD; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PVD
• ISSN: 1931-5244; 1878-1810
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2013.05.001

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease of the lung associated with progressive airflow limitation and punctuated by episodes of acute exacerbation. There is growing recognition that the inflammatory state associated with COPD is not confined to the lungs but also involves the systemic circulation and can impact nonpulmonary organs. Epidemiologic and mechanistic studies indicate that COPD is associated with a high frequency of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias, independent of shared risk factors. Possible pathways include complex interrelationships between chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and oxidative stress as well as shared risk factors such as age, cigarette smoking, and environmental pollutants. In this review, we provide an overview of the epidemiologic data linking COPD with cardiovascular disease, comment on the interrelationships among COPD, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease, and highlight diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.