Study of cardiovascular diseases in hospitalized AECOPD patients

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in exacerbation (AECOPD) have considerable cardiovascular risk, and different cardiovascular diseases are common during exacerbations. Both diseases share several similarities such as, age of the patients, a common risk factor which is smoking and symptoms of exertional dyspnea. Little is known about the magnitude of underlying cardiovascular insult during COPD exacerbations. Objectives: To assess the presence of different associated cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in subjects hospitalized for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and its effect on the outcome. Settings and design: Prospective, observational study conducted in Chest and Cardiology Departments, Zagazig University Hospitals. Patients and methods: There were total 252 patients included in our study after fulfilling the inclusion criteria, patients were subjected to, full history taking, clinical examination, plain chest X-ray, PFTs (post bronchodilators FEV1 <0.7), ECG, echocardiograghy. Results: COPD patients in exacerbation with CVD, were significantly more likely to have longer duration of hospital stay (p < 0.0001), high CRP level (p < 0.001), more frequent mechanical ventilations (p < 0.001), two or more exacerbations per year (p < 0.0001) and the mortality was (p < 0.01). Also, they have GOLD grade III/IV severe (43.5%) and very severe (19.5%) air flow limitation. The high percentage of them had (64.8%) pulmonary hypertension, (37.3%) systemic arterial hypertension, (31.5%) arrhythmia, (27.8%) ischemic heart diseases and (21.3%) heart failure. Conclusions: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in patients hospitalized for COPD in Zagazig University Hospital was high. Age, sex and CVD trends, as well as life style changes, should be considered when prevention and control strategies are formulated