Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an independent predictor of death but not atherosclerotic events in patients with myocardial infarction: analysis of the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT)

Early β-blocker use and in-hospital outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome: findings from the CCC-ACS project

Background

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after acute coronary artery syndrome (ACS) are at an increased risk of heart failure and death. However, β-blockers have been underused in this population group due to concerns of adverse reactions.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the β-blocker prescription at admission and its impact on the in-hospital outcomes in patients with COPD after ACS in a Chinese national cohort.

Methods

Among 113,650 patients with ACS enrolled in the national registry of the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China between November 2014 and July 2019, a total of 1,084 ACS patients with COPD were included in this study. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary endpoint was the composite of in-hospital all-cause death and heart failure.

Results

Early oral β-blocker therapy was administered to 49.8% of patients. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the early β-blocker treatment group had lower all-cause mortality (0.9% vs. 2.9%; P < 0.05) and lower combined endpoint event rate (8.2% vs. 12.0%; P < 0.05) compared to the those of the non-early β-blocker treatment group. The analysis of inverse probability of treatment weighting showed that the early β-blocker treatment group was associated with a significantly reduced incidence of all-cause death (risk ratio, 0.332, 0.119-0.923, P = 0.035), heart failure (risk ratio, 0.625, 95% CI 0.414-0.943, P = 0.025), and combined endpoint events (risk ratio: 0.616, 95% CI: 0.418-0.908, P = 0.014). In the subgroup of patients over 70 years of age, the corresponding hazard ratio was 0.268 (95% CI 0.077-0.938) for all-cause mortality and 0.504 (95% CI 0.316-0.805) for combined endpoint events.

Conclusion

β-blockers have been underused in patients with COPD and ACS in China. Early β-blocker therapy is associated with an improvement in in-hospital outcomes in patients with COPD after ACS.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (NCT02306616).

Multimorbidity and mortality among older patients with coronary heart disease in Shenzhen, China

BACKGROUND

The current understanding of the magnitude and consequences of multimorbidity in Chinese older adults with coronary heart disease (CHD) is insufficient. We aimed to assess the association and population-attributable fractions (PAFs) between multimorbidity and mortality among hospitalized older patients who were diagnosed with CHD in Shenzhen, China.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of older Chinese patients (aged ≥ 65 years) who were diagnosed with CHD. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the associations between multimorbidity and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. We also calculated the PAFs.

RESULTS

The study comprised 76,455 older hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with CHD between January 1, 2016, and August 31, 2022. Among them, 70,217 (91.9%) had multimorbidity, defined as the presence of at least one of the predefined 14 chronic conditions. Those with cancer, hemorrhagic stroke and chronic liver disease had the worst overall death risk, with adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of 4.05 (3.77, 4.38), 2.22 (1.94, 2.53), and 1.85 (1.63, 2.11), respectively. For CVD mortality, the highest risk was observed for hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and chronic kidney disease; the corresponding adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 3.24 (2.77, 3.79), 1.91 (1.79, 2.04), and 1.81 (1.64, 1.99), respectively. All-cause mortality was mostly attributable to cancer, heart failure and ischemic stroke, with PAFs of 11.8, 10.2, and 9.1, respectively. As for CVD mortality, the leading PAFs were heart failure, ischemic stroke and diabetes; the corresponding PAFs were 18.0, 15.7, and 6.1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Multimorbidity was common and had a significant impact on mortality among older patients with CHD in Shenzhen, China. Cancer, heart failure, ischemic stroke and diabetes are the primary contributors to PAFs. Therefore, prioritizing improved treatment and management of these comorbidities is essential for the survival prognosis of CHD patients from a holistic public health perspective.

Global Insights into Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 6,400,000 Patients

Background

The high prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in coronary artery disease (CAD) has been acknowledged over the past decade, although the cause/s remain uncertain due to differences in diagnoses. COPD has also become a leading CAD comorbidity, although again little is known about its interactions. This meta-analysis explored COPD prevalence in the global CAD population, as well as the influence of COPD on CAD.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and grey literature were searched until 26th November 2021. The prevalence of COPD was calculated, and data were grouped according to COPD diagnostic methods, interventions, region, economic status, etc. Outcomes including all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, stroke, heart failure, and respiratory failure were analyzed. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD No.42021293270).

Results

There was an average prevalence of 14.2% for COPD in CAD patients (95% CI: 13.3-15.1), with diagnostics of COPD through spirometry, International Classification of the Diseases (ICD codes), and self-reported methods. Comorbid COPD-CAD patients were more likely to be smokers and suffer from cardiovascular and respiratory complications (all odds ratios [OR] > 1). COPD-CAD has higher mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.81, 95% CI: 2.40-3.29), and myocardial infarction, stroke, and respiratory failure rates (all HR > 1). Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) reduces the need for revascularization (HR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20-0.94) compared to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), without increasing mortality.

Conclusions

The global prevalence of COPD is particularly high in CAD patients. COPD-CAD patients are more likely to encounter cardiovascular and respiratory complications and endure poorer outcomes. Limited evidence suggests that CABG may reduce the need for revascularization without increasing mortality, although further research is required to confirm these observations.

[Cardiopulmonary axis and cardiovascular mortality in patients with COPD]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of mortality in our environment and was usually considered to be confined to the lung territory. The latest studies suggest that it is a systemic disease whose most probable etiopathogenesis is a state of low-intensity chronic inflammation that worsens during exacerbations. And recent scientific evidence has highlighted that cardiovascular diseases are one of the main causes of hospitalization and mortality in these patients. This relationship must be understood considering that both systems, the pulmonary and the cardiovascular, are closely related constituting the cardiopulmonary axis. Therefore, the therapeutic approach to COPD should not only include the treatment of respiratory complications, but also the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, which are very common in these patients. In this sense, in the last years, studies have been carried out that analyze the effect of the different types of inhaled therapy on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in particular.

Beta-blocker use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review: A systematic review of βB in COPD

Beta-blockers (βB) are a frequently used class of medications. Although βB have many indications, those related to cardiovascular disease are among the most common and important. However, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), βB are used less often due to concerns about an unfavorable impact on respiratory morbidity and mortality. We performed a systematic review to assess the safety of βB in patients with COPD. We included a total of 2 randomized controlled trials and 28 observational studies. The majority found statistically significant reductions in mortality. The two higher quality observational studies reported increased mortality with βB. The risk of COPD exacerbations was reduced in about half of the studies. Nonetheless, there were significant biases that confounded the results. The highest quality RCT found a significant increase in severe and very severe COPD exacerbations with βB use. In conclusion, data on the safety of βB in patients with COPD are conflicting. However, given higher quality evidence showed harm with their use, βB should be prescribed with caution in patients with COPD, including patients with cardiac indication for βB.

Effects of COPD on Left Ventricular and Left Atrial Deformation in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Strain Analysis Using Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography

Myocardial strain analysis, which describes myocardial deformation (shortening or lengthening), provides more detailed information about left ventricular (LV) and atrial (LA) functions than conventional echocardiography and delivers prognostic information. To analyze the effects of COPD on left heart function upon acute myocardial infarction (AMI), consecutive AMI patients were retrospectively screened, and patients were included if a post-AMI echocardiography and results of recent pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were available. Strain analysis was performed by a cardiologist who was blinded to clinical information. Overall, 109 AMI patients were included (STEMI: 38%, non-STEMI: 62%). COPD patients (41%) had significantly more impaired LV “global-longitudinal-strain” (LV-GLS) compared to non-COPD patients (−15 ± 4% vs. −18 ± 4%; p < 0.001, respectively), even after adjusting for LV-ejection-fraction (LVEF) and age (mean estimated difference: 1.7%, p = 0.009). Furthermore, COPD patients had more impaired LA strain (LAS) than non-COPD patients in all cardiac cycle phases (estimated mean differences after adjusting for LVEF and age: during reservoir phase: −7.5% (p < 0.001); conduit phase: 5.5% (p < 0.001); contraction phase: 1.9% (p = 0.034)). There were no correlations between PFT variables and strain values. In conclusion, the presence of COPD was associated with more impaired LV and LA functions after AMI, as detected by strain analysis, which was independent of age, LVEF, and PFT variables.

[Possibilities and limitations of the use of beta-blockers in patients with cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

In medical literature, increasing attention is paid to comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In clinical practice, physicians often hesitate to prescribe beta-blockers (β1-adrenoblockers) to COPD patients. This article summarized new results of using beta-blockers in patients with COPD. According to reports, the selective β1-blocker treatment considerably increases the survival rate of patients with COPD and ischemic heart disease, particularly after myocardial infarction (MI), and with chronic heart failure (CHF). The benefit of administering selective β1-blockers to patients with CHF and/or a history of MI overweighs a potential risk related with the treatment even in patients with severe COPD. Convincing data in favor of the β1-blocker treatment in COPD patients without the above-mentioned comorbidities are not available. At present, the selective β1-blocker treatment is considered safe for patients with cardiovascular diseases and COPD. For this reason, selective β1-blockers, such as bisoprolol, metoprolol or nebivolol can be used in managing this patient cohort. Nonselective β1-blockers may induce bronchospasm and are not recommended for COPD patients. For the treatment with β-blockers with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, the probability of bronchial obstruction in COPD patients is lower; however, drugs of this pharmaceutical group have not been compared with cardioselective beta-blockers. For safety reasons, the beta-blocker treatment should be started outside exacerbation of COPD and from a small dose. Careful monitoring is recommended for possible new symptoms, such as emergence/increase of shortness of breath, cough or changes in dosing of other drugs (for example, increased frequency of using short-acting bronchodilators).

Impact of beta-blocker use on the long-term outcomes of heart failure patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

AIMS

The number of patients with both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) is increasing in Asia, and these conditions often coexist. We previously revealed a tendency of beta-blocker underuse among patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and COPD in Asian countries other than Japan. Here, we evaluated the impact of cardio-selective beta-blocker use on the long-term outcomes of patients with HF and COPD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Among the 5232 patients with HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction of <40%) prospectively enrolled from 11 Asian regions in the ASIAN-HF registry, 412 (7.9%) had a history of COPD. We compared the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of the patients with HF and COPD according to the use and type of beta-blockers used: cardio-selective beta-blockers (n = 149) vs. non-cardio-selective beta-blockers (n = 124) vs. no beta-blockers (n = 139). The heart rate was higher, and the outcome was poorer in the no beta-blocker group than in the beta-blocker groups. The 2 year all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the non-cardio-selective beta-blocker group than in the no beta-blocker group. Further, the cardiovascular mortality significantly decreased in the non-cardio-selective beta-blocker group before (hazard ratio: 0.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.18-0.73; P = 0.004) and after adjustments (hazard ratio: 0.37; 95% confidence interval: 0.19-0.73; P = 0.005), but not in the cardio-selective beta-blocker group.

CONCLUSIONS

Beta-blockers reduced the all-cause mortality of patients with HFrEF and COPD after adjusting for age and heart rate, although the possibility of selection bias could not be completely excluded due to multinational prospective registry.

Beta-blocker therapy in patients with COPD: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis with multiple treatment comparison

BACKGROUND

Beta-blockers are associated with reduced mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease but are often under prescribed in those with concomitant COPD, due to concerns regarding respiratory side-effects. We investigated the effects of beta-blockers on outcomes in patients with COPD and explored within-class differences between different agents.

METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Medline for observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of beta-blocker exposure versus no exposure or placebo, in patients with COPD, with and without cardiovascular indications. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the association of beta-blocker therapy with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), and a network meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of individual beta-blockers on FEV1. Mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and quality of life outcomes were narratively synthesized.

RESULTS

We included 23 observational studies and 14 RCTs. In pooled observational data, beta-blocker therapy was associated with an overall reduced risk of AECOPD versus no therapy (HR 0.77, 95%CI 0.70 to 0.85). Among individual beta-blockers, only propranolol was associated with a relative reduction in FEV1 versus placebo, among 199 patients evaluated in RCTs. Narrative syntheses on mortality, all-cause hospitalization and quality of life outcomes indicated a high degree of heterogeneity in study design and patient characteristics but suggested no detrimental effects of beta-blocker therapy on these outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The class effect of beta-blockers remains generally positive in patients with COPD. Reduced rates of AECOPD, mortality, and improved quality of life were identified in observational studies, while propranolol was the only agent associated with a deterioration of lung function in RCTs.

Sex Differences in the Effects of COPD on Incidence and Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized with ST and Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Population-Based Matched-Pair Analysis in Spain (2016-2018)

We aimed to compare the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients admitted with myocardial infarction (MI), whether ST elevation MI (STEMI) or non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI), according to the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to identify variables associated with in-hospital mortality (IHM). We selected all patients with MI (aged ≥40 years) included in the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database (2016–2018). We matched each patient suffering COPD with a non-COPD patient with identical age, sex, type of MI, and year of hospitalization. We identified 109,759 men and 44,589 women with MI. The MI incidence was higher in COPD patients (incident rate ratio (IRR) 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29–1.35). Men with COPD had higher incidence of STEMI and NSTEMI than women with COPD. After matching, COPD men had a higher IHM than non-COPD men, but no differences were found among women. The probability of dying was higher among COPD men with STEMI in comparison with NSTEMI (odds ratio (OR) 2.33; 95% CI 1.96–2.77), with this risk being higher among COPD women (OR 2.63; 95% CI 1.75–3.95). Suffering COPD increased the IHM after an MI in men (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03–1.27), but no differences were found in women. COPD women had a higher IHM than men (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.01–1.39). We conclude that MI incidence was higher in COPD patients. IHM was higher in COPD men than in those without COPD, but no differences were found among women. Among COPD patients, STEMI was more lethal than NSTEMI. Suffering COPD increased the IHM after MI among men. Women with COPD had a significantly higher probability of dying in the hospital than COPD men.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Insights From PARADIGM-HF

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common comorbidity in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, associated with undertreatment and worse outcomes. New treatments for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction may be particularly important in patients with concomitant COPD.

Methods and Results

We examined outcomes in 8399 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, according to COPD status, in the PARADIGM‐HF (Prospective Comparison of Angiotensin Receptor Blocker–Neprilysin Inhibitor With Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitor to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure) trial. Cox regression models were used to compare COPD versus non‐COPD subgroups and the effects of sacubitril/valsartan versus enalapril. Patients with COPD (n=1080, 12.9%) were older than patients without COPD (mean 67 versus 63 years; P<0.001), with similar left ventricular ejection fraction (29.9% versus 29.4%), but higher NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide; median, 1741 pg/mL versus 1591 pg/mL; P=0.01), worse functional class (New York Heart Association III/IV 37% versus 23%; P<0.001) and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire–Clinical Summary Score (73 versus 81; P<0.001), and more congestion and comorbidity. Medical therapy was similar in patients with and without COPD except for beta‐blockade (87% versus 94%; P<0.001) and diuretics (85% versus 80%; P<0.001). After multivariable adjustment, COPD was associated with higher risks of heart failure hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR], 1.32; 95% CI, 1.13–1.54), and the composite of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05–1.34), but not cardiovascular death (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.94–1.30), or all‐cause mortality (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.99–1.31). COPD was also associated with higher risk of all cardiovascular hospitalization (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05–1.31) and noncardiovascular hospitalization (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.29–1.64). The benefit of sacubitril/valsartan over enalapril was consistent in patients with and without COPD for all end points.

Conclusions

In PARADIGM‐HF, COPD was associated with lower use of beta‐blockers and worse health status and was an independent predictor of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular hospitalization. Sacubitril/valsartan was beneficial in this high‐risk subgroup.

Registration

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01035255.

Beta Blockers and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Sum of Evidence

Approximately, half a century has passed since the discovery of beta blockers. Then, their prime therapeutic purpose was to treat angina and cardiac arrhythmias, nowadays, beta blockers' usage and effectiveness is extended to treat other cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease. Safety concerns were raised about beta blockers and their use for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with concurrent cardiovascular disease. After a thorough research of the literature, this review summarizes the evidence proving that beta blockers not only might be well tolerated in COPD patients, but they might also have a beneficial effect in this group of patients.

A Post Hoc Holter ECG Analysis of Olodaterol and Formoterol in Moderate-to-Very-Severe COPD

Background

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias and elevated heart rate. A theoretical mechanistic association based on the interaction of long-acting β₂-agonists (LABAs) with adrenoreceptors in the heart and vasculature is assumed as a potential class-related risk. Therefore, we performed a pooled analysis of Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) data from four 48-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, Phase III clinical trials evaluating olodaterol (5 μg or 10 μg) or formoterol (12 µg) versus placebo.

Methods

We analyzed Holter ECG data from a representative subset of 775 patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage 2–4 COPD from four studies (1222.11–14) assessing olodaterol (5 μg and 10 μg) and formoterol (12 µg) versus placebo.

Results

No statistically significant (P>0.3) or clinically relevant differences in the shift from baseline of premature supraventricular or ventricular beats were observed among the active treatment and the placebo groups. Minor and transient differences were observed in the adjusted mean heart rate from baseline during treatment in all groups. There was a numerically small but statistically significant increase for formoterol at Week 24, olodaterol 5 μg at Weeks 12 and 40, and olodaterol 10 μg at Week 40 (all less than 3.0 beats per minute). Mean heart rates returned to a statistically non-significant change at Week 48 for all treatment groups. No increase in major adverse cardiovascular events was observed.

Conclusion

Treatment with olodaterol or formoterol is not associated with arrhythmias or a persistent increase in heart rate as assessed by Holter ECG in patients with COPD.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT00782210 (1222.11); NCT00782509 (1222.12); NCT00793624 (1222.13); NCT00796653 (1222.14).

COPD and acute myocardial infarction

COPD is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, in particular acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Besides shared risk factors, COPD-related factors, such as systemic inflammation and hypoxia, underlie the pathophysiological interaction between COPD and AMI. The prevalence of COPD amongst AMI populations ranges from 7% to 30%, which is possibly even an underestimation due to underdiagnoses of COPD in general. Following the acute event, patients with COPD have an increased risk of mortality, heart failure and arrhythmias during follow-up. Adequate risk stratification can be performed using various imaging techniques, evaluating cardiac size and function after AMI. Conventional imaging techniques such as echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have already indicated impaired cardiac function in patients with COPD without known cardiovascular disease. Advanced imaging techniques such as speckle-tracking echocardiography and T1 mapping could provide more insight into cardiac structure and function after AMI and have proven to be of prognostic value. Future research is required to better understand the impact of AMI on patients with COPD in order to provide effective secondary prevention. The present article summarises the current knowledge on the pathophysiologic factors involved in the interaction between COPD and AMI, the prevalence and outcomes of AMI in patients with COPD and the role of imaging in the acute phase and risk stratification after AMI in patients with COPD.

Pharmacological interventions for heart failure in people with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Approximately half of people with heart failure have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Pharmacological interventions for heart failure in people with CKD have the potential to reduce death (any cause) or hospitalisations for decompensated heart failure. However, these interventions are of uncertain benefit and may increase the risk of harm, such as hypotension and electrolyte abnormalities, in those with CKD.

OBJECTIVES

This review aims to look at the benefits and harms of pharmacological interventions for HF (i.e., antihypertensive agents, inotropes, and agents that may improve the heart performance indirectly) in people with HF and CKD.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Register of Studies through 12 September 2019 in consultation with an Information Specialist and using search terms relevant to this review. Studies in the Register are identified through searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Register (ICTRP) Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials of any pharmacological intervention for acute or chronic heart failure, among people of any age with chronic kidney disease of at least three months duration.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently screened the records to identify eligible studies and extracted data on the following dichotomous outcomes: death, hospitalisations, worsening heart failure, worsening kidney function, hyperkalaemia, and hypotension. We used random effects meta-analysis to estimate treatment effects, which we expressed as a risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane tool. We applied the GRADE methodology to rate the certainty of evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

One hundred and twelve studies met our selection criteria: 15 were studies of adults with CKD; 16 studies were conducted in the general population but provided subgroup data for people with CKD; and 81 studies included individuals with CKD, however, data for this subgroup were not provided. The risk of bias in all 112 studies was frequently high or unclear. Of the 31 studies (23,762 participants) with data on CKD patients, follow-up ranged from three months to five years, and study size ranged from 16 to 2916 participants. In total, 26 studies (19,612 participants) reported disaggregated and extractable data on at least one outcome of interest for our review and were included in our meta-analyses. In acute heart failure, the effects of adenosine A1-receptor antagonists, dopamine, nesiritide, or serelaxin on death, hospitalisations, worsening heart failure or kidney function, hyperkalaemia, hypotension or quality of life were uncertain due to sparse data or were not reported. In chronic heart failure, the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (4 studies, 5003 participants: RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.02; I² = 78%; low certainty evidence), aldosterone antagonists (2 studies, 34 participants: RR 0.61 95% CI 0.06 to 6.59; very low certainty evidence), and vasopressin receptor antagonists (RR 1.26, 95% CI 0.55 to 2.89; 2 studies, 1840 participants; low certainty evidence) on death (any cause) were uncertain. Treatment with beta-blockers may reduce the risk of death (any cause) (4 studies, 3136 participants: RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.79; I² = 0%; moderate certainty evidence). Treatment with ACEi or ARB (2 studies, 1368 participants: RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.90; I² = 97%; very low certainty evidence) had uncertain effects on hospitalisation for heart failure, as treatment estimates were consistent with either benefit or harm. Treatment with beta-blockers may decrease hospitalisation for heart failure (3 studies, 2287 participants: RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.05; I² = 87%; low certainty evidence). Aldosterone antagonists may increase the risk of hyperkalaemia compared to placebo or no treatment (3 studies, 826 participants: RR 2.91, 95% CI 2.03 to 4.17; I² = 0%; low certainty evidence). Renin inhibitors had uncertain risks of hyperkalaemia (2 studies, 142 participants: RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.49; I² = 0%; very low certainty). We were unable to estimate whether treatment with sinus node inhibitors affects the risk of hyperkalaemia, as there were few studies and meta-analysis was not possible. Hyperkalaemia was not reported for the CKD subgroup in studies investigating other therapies. The effects of ACEi or ARB, or aldosterone antagonists on worsening heart failure or kidney function, hypotension, or quality of life were uncertain due to sparse data or were not reported. Effects of anti-arrhythmic agents, digoxin, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, renin inhibitors, sinus node inhibitors, vasodilators, and vasopressin receptor antagonists were very uncertain due to the paucity of studies.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The effects of pharmacological interventions for heart failure in people with CKD are uncertain and there is insufficient evidence to inform clinical practice. Study data for treatment outcomes in patients with heart failure and CKD are sparse despite the potential impact of kidney impairment on the benefits and harms of treatment. Future research aimed at analysing existing data in general population HF studies to explore the effect in subgroups of patients with CKD, considering stage of disease, may yield valuable insights for the management of people with HF and CKD.

The interaction effect of cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidity on myocardial infarction mortality: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Whether the prognostic impact of comorbidity on myocardial infarction (MI) mortality is due to comorbidity alone or/and its interaction effect is unknown.

METHODS

We used Danish medical registries to conduct a nationwide cohort study of all first-time MIs during 1995-2016 (n = 179,515) and a comparison cohort matched on age, sex, and individual comorbidities (n = 880,347). We calculated age-standardized 5-year all-cause mortality rates. Interaction was examined on an additive scale by calculating interaction contrasts (difference in rate differences).

RESULTS

Among individuals without comorbidity, the 30-day mortality rate per 1000 person-years was 1851 (95% CI: 1818-1884) for MI patients and 22 (21-24) for comparison cohort members (rate difference = 1829). For individuals with low comorbidity, corresponding baseline mortality rates were 2498 (2436-2560) in the MI and 54 (50-57) in the comparison cohort (rate difference = 2444). The interaction contrast (616) indicated that the interaction accounted for 25% (616/2498) of the total 30-day mortality rate in MI patients with low comorbidity. This percentage increased further for moderate (35%) and severe (45%) comorbidity levels. Absolute and relative interaction effects were largest within the first 30 days and younger individuals. Dose-response patterns were also observed during 31-365 days and 1-5 years of follow-up (p-values for trends<0.002). The interaction differed substantially between individual types of cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities interact with MI to increase short- and long-term mortality beyond that explained by their additive effects. The interaction had a dose-response relation with comorbidity burden and a magnitude of clinical importance.

Prevalence of cardiac comorbidities, and their underdetection and contribution to exertional symptoms in COPD: results from the COSYCONET cohort

Background

A substantial prevalence of cardiovascular disease is known for COPD, but detection of its presence, relationship to functional findings and contribution to symptoms remains challenging. The present analysis focusses on the cardiovascular contribution to COPD symptoms and their relationship to the patients’ diagnostic status, medication and echocardiographic findings.

Methods

Patients from the COPD cohort COSYCONET with data on lung function, including FEV₁, residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) ratio, diffusing capacity TLCO, and echocardiographic data on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), medical history, medication, modified British Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC) and Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were analyzed.

Results

A total of 1591 patients (GOLD 0–4: n=230/126/614/498/123) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction or heart failure were reported in 289 patients (18.2%); 860 patients (54%) received at least one cardiovascular medication, with more than one in many patients. LVEF<50% or LVEDD>56 mm was found in 204 patients (12.8%), of whom 74 (36.3%) had neither a cardiovascular history nor medication. Among 948 patients (59.6%) without isolated hypertension, there were 21/55 (38.2%) patients with LVEF<50% and 47/88 (53.4%) with LVEDD>56 mm, who lacked both a cardiac diagnosis and medication. LVEDD and LVEF were linked to medical history; LVEDD was dependent on RV/TLC and LVEF on FEV₁. Exertional COPD symptoms were best described by mMRC and the SGRQ activity score. Beyond lung function, an independent link from LVEDD on symptoms was revealed.

Conclusion

A remarkable proportion of patients with suspicious echocardiographic findings were undiagnosed and untreated, implying an increased risk for an unfavorable prognosis. Cardiac size and function were dependent on lung function and only partially linked to cardiovascular history. Although the contribution of LV size to COPD symptoms was small compared to lung function, it was detectable irrespective of all other influencing factors. However, only the mMRC and SGRQ activity component were found to be suitable for this purpose.

Beta-Blockers in COPD: A Methodological Review of the Observational Studies

The use of beta-blockers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received much attention. Several observational studies reported important reductions in mortality and exacerbations with these drugs, but the extent of bias in these studies is unclear. Nevertheless, the large ongoing randomized trial (βLOCK-COPD) was initiated specifically to evaluate these effects. We searched the literature to identify all observational studies investigating the effectiveness of beta-blockers in COPD patients on major outcomes, including death and COPD exacerbation. We identified 18 observational studies, with 10 studies affected by confounding bias and six by immortal time bias, while two addressed these biases. Reductions in all-cause mortality with beta-blocker use were observed among the studies with confounding bias (pooled rate ratio 0.72; 95% CI 0.59-0.88) and those with immortal time bias (pooled rate ratio 0.64; 95% CI 0.53-0.77). A large five-database study that addressed these two biases reported hazard ratios of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.78-1.02) for death and 0.54 (95% CI: 0.47-0.61) for COPD hospitalization. However, this latter estimate was the same as for the first 30 days after treatment initiation, thus indicating that important residual confounding cannot be ruled out. Observational studies, important to provide evidence from real-world data on medication effects, are unsupportive for beta-blockers in COPD. Even if immortal time bias is properly avoided, confounding bias cannot be fully controlled due to their relative contraindication in COPD. In the case of beta-blockers, randomized trials such as βLOCK-COPD are necessary to eliminate the uncertainty from residual confounding bias.

The prevalence of 30-day readmission after acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

The 30‐day readmission is associated with increased medical costs, which has become an important quality metric in several medical institutions. This current study is aimed at clarifying the prevalence, the underlying risk factors, and reasons of the 30‐day readmission after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were systematically searched to identify eligible studies. Random‐effect models were employed to perform pooled analyses. Means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate prevalence and reasons for 30‐day readmission. We also used Odds ratios (ORs) to explore the potential significant predictors of risk factors of 30‐day readmission after AMI. Potential publication bias was assessed using funnel plot and Begg'test.

Results

A total of 14 relevant studies were included in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. The pooled 30‐day readmission rate of AMI was 12% (95% CI 0.11‐0.14). Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), angina and acute ischemic heart disease, and heart failure (HF) were the principal cardiovascular reasons of 30‐day readmission. Meanwhile, non‐specific chest pain was regarded as the significant cause among non‐cardiovascular reasons. The common co‐morbidities kidney disease, HF and diabetes mellitus were significant risk factors for 30‐day readmission. No significant publication bias was found by funnel plot and statistical tests.

Conclusions

The 30‐day readmission rate of post‐AMI ranged from 11% to 14% and can be mainly attributed to cardiovascular and non‐cardiovascular events. The common co‐morbidities, such as kidney disease, HF, and diabetes mellitus were significant risk factors for 30‐day readmission.

[Clinical features and prognosis in heart failure patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases]

BACKGROUND

Multimorbidity is a specific characteristic of the modern patient with chronic heart failure (CHF) which significantly changes clinical course, prognosis of the syndrome, leads to socio‑economic losses and makes significant adjustments to treatment tactics. The goal is to study the clinical features and prognosis of patients with CHF in combination with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 183 HF patients, including with stable CHF, including 105 with CHF combined with COPD. The clinical phenotype was assessed by its belonging to the functional class and the severity of COPD. A 6‑minute walk test (6‑MWT), spirometry, echocardioscopy, testing on a scale assessing the clinical condition, quality of life were studied. The end points during the year were: all‑cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and hospitalization rates due to acute decompensation of CHF.

RESULTS

The clinical phenotype of CHF combined with COPD was characterized by a high frequency of smoking, low quality of life and exercise tolerance. Respiratory dysfunction in CHF in combination with COPD was characterized by mixed disorders (68.4%), in CHF without lung disease, restrictive (25.6%). Cardiovascular mortality in comorbid pathology was 4.0%, in CHF without COPD - 4.6%; myocardial infarction was observed 1.7 times more often with lung disease than in patients with CHF only (16.8% and 10.8%); stroke was observed exclusively in comorbid pathology (8.9%). The combined endpoint (all cardiovascular events) with CHF in combination with COPD was achieved 2.3 times more often in comparison with patients with COPD only (29.7% and 15.4%). Hospitalization due to acute decompensation of CHF occurred 2 times more often with CHF in combination with COPD than without it (32.7% and 15.4%) with a tendency to increase as the left ventricular ejection fraction decreased.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study demonstrate that COPD contributes to the formation of the clinical phenotype of CHF from the standpoint of the mutual influence of the characteristics of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and also aggravates the prognosis that requires an integrated approach to the differential diagnosis and individualization of pharmacotherapy.

Personalized medicine for patients with COPD: where are we?

Chronic airflow limitation is the common denominator of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is not possible to predict morbidity and mortality of individual patients based on the degree of lung function impairment, nor does the degree of airflow limitation allow guidance regarding therapies. Over the last decades, understanding of the factors contributing to the heterogeneity of disease trajectories, clinical presentation, and response to existing therapies has greatly advanced. Indeed, diagnostic assessment and treatment algorithms for COPD have become more personalized. In addition to the pulmonary abnormalities and inhaler therapies, extra-pulmonary features and comorbidities have been studied and are considered essential components of comprehensive disease management, including lifestyle interventions. Despite these advances, predicting and/or modifying the course of the disease remains currently impossible, and selection of patients with a beneficial response to specific interventions is unsatisfactory. Consequently, non-response to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments is common, and many patients have refractory symptoms. Thus, there is an ongoing urgency for a more targeted and holistic management of the disease, incorporating the basic principles of P4 medicine (predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory). This review describes the current status and unmet needs regarding personalized medicine for patients with COPD. Also, it proposes a systems medicine approach, integrating genetic, environmental, (micro)biological, and clinical factors in experimental and computational models in order to decipher the multilevel complexity of COPD. Ultimately, the acquired insights will enable the development of clinical decision support systems and advance personalized medicine for patients with COPD.

Left ventricular volume and wall stress are linked to lung function impairment in COPD

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular comorbidities are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined the association between airflow limitation, hyperinflation and the left ventricle (LV).

METHODS

Patients from the COPD cohort COSYCONET underwent evaluations including forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), effective airway resistance (R_eff), intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV), and echocardiographic LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), stroke volume (LVSV), end-systolic volume (LVESV), and end-diastolic and end-systolic LV wall stress. Data from Visit 1 (baseline) and Visit 3 (18 months later) were used. In addition to comparisons of both visits, multivariate regression analysis was conducted, followed by structural equation modelling (SEM) with latent variables "Lung" and "Left heart".

RESULTS

A total of 641 participants were included in this analysis. From Visit 1 to Visit 3, there were significant declines in FEV₁ and FEV₁/FVC, and increases in R_eff, ITGV and LV end-diastolic wall stress, and a borderline significant decrease in LV mass. There were significant correlations of: FEV₁% predicted with LVEDV and LVSV; R_eff with LVSV; and ITGV with LV mass and LV end-diastolic wall stress. The SEM fitted the data of both visits well (comparative fit index: 0.978, 0.962), with strong correlation between "Lung" and "Left heart".

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated a relationship between lung function impairment and LV wall stress in patients with COPD. This supports the hypothesis that LV impairment in COPD could be initiated or promoted, at least partly, by mechanical factors exerted by the lung disorder.

Importance of iron deficiency in patients with chronic heart failure as a predictor of mortality and hospitalizations: insights from an observational cohort study

Background

Iron deficiency (ID) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is considered an adverse prognostic factor. We aimed to evaluate if ID in patients with CHF is associated with increased mortality and hospitalizations.

Methods

We evaluated ID in patients with CHF at 3 university hospitals. ID was defined as absolute (ferritin < 100 μg/L) or functional (transferrin Saturation index < 20% and ferritin between 100 and 299 μg/L). We excluded patients who received treatment with intravenous Iron or Erythropoietin during follow-up. We evaluated if ID was a predictor of death or hospitalization due to heart failure or any cause using univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis.

Results

We included 1684 patients, 65% males, 38% diabetics, median age of 72 years, 37% in functional class III-IV and 30% of patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction > 45%. Patients were well treated, with 87% and 88% of patients receiving renin-angiotensin inhibitors and beta-blockers, respectively. Median transferrin saturation index was 20%, median ferritin 155 ng/mL and median haemoglobin 13 g/dL. ID was present in 53% of patients; in 35% it was absolute and in 18% functional. Median follow-up was 20 months. ID was a predictor of death, hospitalization due to heart failure or to any cause in univariate analysis but not after multivariate analysis. No differences were found between absolute or functional ID regarding prognosis.

Conclusion

In a real life population of patients with CHF and a high prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, ID did not predict mortality or hospitalizations after adjustment for comorbidities, functional class and neurohormonal treatment.

T wave peak-to-end interval in COPD

Introduction

The interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic (ECG) T wave (Tp–Te) can estimate cardiovascular mortality and ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to define a new ECG parameter in patients with COPD.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional observational study that included COPD patients who were diagnosed previously and followed up in the outpatient clinic. All data of the patients’ demographic features, history, spirometry, and electrocardiographs were analyzed.

Results

We enrolled 134 patients with COPD and 40 healthy volunteers as controls in our study. Patients already known to be having COPD who were under follow-up for their COPD and diagnosed as having COPD according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria were included. Men comprised 82.8% of the COPD group and 73.2% of controls. The mean age in the COPD and control group was 60.2±9.4 and 58.2±6.7 years, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups for age or sex (p=0.207, p=0.267, respectively). There were 46 (34.3%) patients in group A, 23 (17.2%) patients in group B, 26 (19.4%) patients in group C, and 46 (29.1%) patients in group D as COPD group. There was a significant increase in Tp–Te results in all precordial leads in the COPD group compared with the control group (p<0.05). Precordial V4 lead has the most extensive area under the curve (0.831; sensitivity 76.5%, specificity 89.6%).

Conclusion

We present strong evidence that Tp–Te intervals were increased in patients with COPD, which suggests that there may be an association between COPD and ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac morbidity.

Prognostic influence of prior chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients admitted for their first episode of acute heart failure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent comorbidity in heart failure (HF) patients. Whether a prior COPD diagnosis influences patients' prognosis in early stages of HF is unknown. We reviewed patients > 50 years old admitted because of a first episode of acute HF. We divided the sample into two groups according to the existence of a prior diagnosis of COPD. We used regression analysis to identify the baseline patients' characteristics associated with the presence of COPD, and Cox mortality analysis to identify baseline and discharge data related to higher risk of a combined outcome of 1-year all-cause readmission or mortality. Finally, 985 patients were included in the analysis; 212 (21.5%) with a prior diagnosis of COPD. Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups except for a much higher prevalence of male gender, higher number of chronic therapies, and lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation among COPD patients. The combined primary outcome is significantly more prevalent in COPD patients (68.4 vs. 59.8%, p = 0.022). Cox analysis identified this prior diagnosis of COPD (HR 1.282, 95% CI 1.063-1.547; p = 0.001) as an independent risk factor for 1-year readmission and mortality, together with older age, higher admission creatinine and potassium values, and a higher number of chronic therapies. Our study confirms that in a "real-life" cohort of elderly patients experiencing a first episode of acute HF, the presence of a prior diagnosis of COPD is common, and confers a higher risk of adverse outcomes (death or readmission) during the year following discharge.

Multimorbidity and survival for patients with acute myocardial infarction in England and Wales: Latent class analysis of a nationwide population-based cohort

BACKGROUND

There is limited knowledge of the scale and impact of multimorbidity for patients who have had an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the extent to which multimorbidity is associated with long-term survival following AMI.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

This national observational study included 693,388 patients (median age 70.7 years, 452,896 [65.5%] male) from the Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (England and Wales) who were admitted with AMI between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2013. There were 412,809 (59.5%) patients with multimorbidity at the time of admission with AMI, i.e., having at least 1 of the following long-term health conditions: diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, heart failure, renal failure, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, or hypertension. Those with heart failure, renal failure, or cerebrovascular disease had the worst outcomes (39.5 [95% CI 39.0-40.0], 38.2 [27.7-26.8], and 26.6 [25.2-26.4] deaths per 100 person-years, respectively). Latent class analysis revealed 3 multimorbidity phenotype clusters: (1) a high multimorbidity class, with concomitant heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension, (2) a medium multimorbidity class, with peripheral vascular disease and hypertension, and (3) a low multimorbidity class. Patients in class 1 were less likely to receive pharmacological therapies compared with class 2 and 3 patients (including aspirin, 83.8% versus 87.3% and 87.2%, respectively; β-blockers, 74.0% versus 80.9% and 81.4%; and statins, 80.6% versus 85.9% and 85.2%). Flexible parametric survival modelling indicated that patients in class 1 and class 2 had a 2.4-fold (95% CI 2.3-2.5) and 1.5-fold (95% CI 1.4-1.5) increased risk of death and a loss in life expectancy of 2.89 and 1.52 years, respectively, compared with those in class 3 over the 8.4-year follow-up period. The study was limited to all-cause mortality due to the lack of available cause-specific mortality data. However, we isolated the disease-specific association with mortality by providing the loss in life expectancy following AMI according to multimorbidity phenotype cluster compared with the general age-, sex-, and year-matched population.

CONCLUSIONS

Multimorbidity among patients with AMI was common, and conferred an accumulative increased risk of death. Three multimorbidity phenotype clusters that were significantly associated with loss in life expectancy were identified and should be a concomitant treatment target to improve cardiovascular outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03037255.

Airway obstruction and lung hyperinflation in COPD are linked to an impaired left ventricular diastolic filling

AIMS

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular diseases are thought to be linked through various factors. We aimed to assess the relationship between airway obstruction, lung hyperinflation and diastolic filling in COPD.

METHODS

The study population was a subset of the COPD cohort COSYCONET. Echocardiographic parameters included the left atrial diameter (LA), early (E) and late (A) transmitral flow, mitral annulus velocity (e'), E wave deceleration time (E[dt]), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT). We quantified the effect of various predictors including forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV) on the echocardiographic parameters by multiple linear regression and integrated the relationships into a path analysis model.

RESULTS

A total of 615 COPD patients were included (mean FEV₁ 52.6% predicted). In addition to influences of age, BMI and blood pressure, ITGV was positively related to e'-septal and negatively to LA, FEV₁ positively to E(dt) (p < 0.05 each). The effect of predictors was most pronounced for LA, e'-septal and E(dt), and less for E/A, IVRT and E/e'. Path analysis was used to take into account the additional relationships between the echocardiographic parameters themselves, demonstrating that their associations with the predictors were maintained and robust.

CONCLUSIONS

Airway obstruction and lung hyperinflation were significantly associated with cardiac diastolic filling in patients with COPD, suggesting a decreased preload rather than an inherently impaired myocardial relaxation itself. This suggests that a reduction in obstruction and hyperinflation could help to improve cardiac filling.

Beta-blocker under-use in COPD patients

Background

Cardiovascular (CVS) comorbidities are common in COPD and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality, especially following acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). Beta-blockers (BBs) are safe and effective in COPD patients, with demonstrated survival benefit following myocardial infarction. We sought to determine if BBs are under-prescribed in patients hospitalized with AECOPD. We also sought to determine inpatient rates of CVS and cerebrovascular complications, and their impact on patient outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective hospital data was collected over a 12-month period. The medical records of all patients >40 years of age coded with a diagnosis of AECOPD were analyzed. Prevalent use and incident initiation of BBs were assessed. Comorbidities including indications and contraindications for BB use were analyzed.

Results

Of the 366 eligible patients, 156 patients (42.6%) had at least one indication for BB use – of these patients, only 53 (34.0%) were on BB therapy and 61 (39.1%) were not on BB therapy but had no listed contraindication. Prevalent use of BBs at the time of admission in all 366 patients was 19.7%, compared with 45.6%, 39.6% and 45.9% use of anti-platelets, statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blockers, respectively. CVS and cerebrovascular complications were common in this population (57 patients, 16%) and were associated with longer length of stay (p<0.01) and greater inpatient mortality (p=0.02).

Conclusions

BBs are under-prescribed in COPD patients despite clear indication(s) for their use. Further work is required to explore barriers to BB prescribing in COPD patients.

Relation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease to Cardiovascular Disease in the General Population

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem that contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality globally. This study investigated the relation between COPD and the risk of cardiovascular disease in the general population. We evaluated the cardiovascular effect of COPD using Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 2002 to 2013. We compared selected cardiovascular disease risk factors depending on pulmonary function using the Korean Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES, n = 24,429) data. COPD was diagnosed in 11,771 patients (2.4%) in the National Health Insurance Service cohort. During the follow-up period (45.5 ± 14.9 months), subjects with COPD had lower cumulative survival rate for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and sudden cardiac death (SCD, all p values <0.001). COPD was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality even after adjustment for potential confounding variables (hazard ratio [HR] 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33 to 1.55, p <0.001). However, COPD did not significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.22, p = 0.876) and SCD (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.44, p = 0.664) when adjusted for potential confounding variables. Analysis of the KNHANES cohort showed that systolic blood pressure, current smoking status, and Framingham risk score increased progressively with a decrease in pulmonary function (all p <0.001). In conclusion, COPD was associated with all-cause mortality, but not with cardiovascular mortality and SCD, whereas poor pulmonary function was associated with a heightened cardiovascular risk.

The evaluation of β-adrenoceptor blocking agents in patients with COPD and congestive heart failure: a nationwide study

OBJECTIVE

β-Blockers are safe and improve survival in patients with both congestive heart failure (CHF) and COPD. However, the superiority of different types of β-blockers is still unclear among patients with CHF and COPD. The association between β-blockers and CHF exacerbation as well as COPD exacerbation remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of different β-blockers in patients with concurrent CHF and COPD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan to conduct a retrospective cohort study. The inclusion criteria for CHF were patients who were >20 years old and were diagnosed with CHF between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2012. COPD patients included those who had outpatient visit claims ≥2 times within 365 days or 1 claim for hospitalization with a COPD diagnosis. A time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to evaluate the effectiveness of β-blockers in the study population.

RESULTS

We identified 1,872 patients with concurrent CHF and COPD. Only high-dose bisoprolol significantly reduced the risk of death and slightly decreased the hospitalization rate due to CHF exacerbation (death: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] =0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.29-0.89; hospitalization rate due to CHF exacerbation: aHR =0.48, 95% CI =0.23-1.00). No association was observed between β-blocker use and COPD exacerbation.

CONCLUSION

In patients with concurrent CHF and COPD, β-blockers reduced mortality, CHF exacerbation, and the need for hospitalization. Bisoprolol was found to reduce mortality and CHF exacerbation compared to carvedilol and metoprolol.

ANMCO/GICR-IACPR/SICI-GISE Consensus Document: the clinical management of chronic ischaemic cardiomyopathy

Stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is a clinical entity of great epidemiological importance. It is becoming increasingly common due to the longer life expectancy, being strictly related to age and to advances in diagnostic techniques and pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Stable CAD encompasses a variety of clinical and anatomic presentations, making the identification of its clinical and anatomical features challenging. Therapeutic interventions should be defined on an individual basis according to the patient's risk profile. To this aim, management flow charts have been reviewed based on sustainability and appropriateness derived from recent evidence. Special emphasis has been placed on non-pharmacological interventions, stressing the importance of lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation, regular physical activity, and diet. Adherence to therapy as an emerging risk factor is also discussed.

Temporal Trends in Treatment and Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction is a major cause of hospitalization and death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, temporal trends in the management and clinical outcomes of these patients remain unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted an observational study by using a representative sample of 1 million beneficiaries from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Comorbidities, in-hospital treatment, and outcomes were compared for patients with acute myocardial infarction with and without COPD between 2004 and 2013. Temporal trends in treatment and outcomes were analyzed. We included 6770 patients admitted to hospitals with acute myocardial infarction diagnoses, of whom 1921 (28.3%) had COPD. Fewer patients with COPD received β-blockers (adjusted odds ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.59-0.74), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (adjusted odds ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.73-0.93), statins, anticoagulants, dual antiplatelets, and coronary interventions. These patients had higher mortality (in hospital: adjusted hazard ratio 1.25 [95% CI 1.11-1.41]; 1 year: adjusted hazard ratio 1.20 [95% CI 1.09-1.32]) and respiratory failure risk during admission. Temporal trends showed little improvement in mortality in patients with COPD over 10 years. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that dual antiplatelets, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers, statins, coronary angiography, and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were significantly correlated with improved mortality in patients with COPD.

CONCLUSIONS

In Taiwan, a lower proportion of patients with COPD received evidence-based therapies for acute myocardial infarction than did patients without COPD, and their clinical outcomes were inferior. Limited improvement in mortality was observed over the preceding 10 years and is attributable to the underuse of evidence-based treatments.

Association of beta-blocker treatment with mortality following myocardial infarction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction: a propensity matched-cohort analysis from the High-Risk Myocardial Infarction Database Initiative

AIMS

To determine the influence of baseline beta-blocker use on long-term prognosis of myocardial infarction (MI) survivors complicated with heart failure (HF) or with left ventricular dysfunction and with history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Among the 28 771 patients from the High-Risk MI Database Initiative we identified 1573 patients with a baseline history of COPD. We evaluated the association between beta-blocker use at baseline (822 with beta-blocker and 751 without) on the rates of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. On univariable Cox analysis, beta-blocker use was found to be associated with lower rates of both all-cause [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.75, P < 0.0001] and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.51-0.78, P < 0.0001). After extensive adjustment for confounding, including 24 baseline covariates, COPD patients still benefited from beta-blocker usage (HR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.90, P = 0.002 for all-cause mortality; HR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.61-0.97, P = 0.025 for cardiovascular mortality). Adjusting for propensity scores (PS) constructed from the 24 aforementioned baseline characteristics provided similar results. In a cohort of 561 pairs of patients taking or not taking beta-blocker matched on PS using a 1:1 nearest-neighbour matching method, patients treated with beta-blocker experienced fewer all-cause deaths (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.56-0.89, P = 0.003) and cardiovascular deaths (HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.59-0.97, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

In the specific setting of a well-treated cohort of high-risk MI survivors, beta-blockers were associated with better outcomes in patients with COPD.

Prevalence and Prognostic Impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Data from the GISSI-HF Trial

OBJECTIVES

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). We aimed to assess its prevalence, characterization and long-term prognostic impact in the GISSI-HF population.

METHODS

The study randomized 6,975 ambulatory HF patients to either n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids or placebo. We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics and outcomes of the 1,533 patients diagnosed with COPD (22%).

RESULTS

COPD was associated with a worse clinical presentation and an increased burden of comorbidities. At a median follow-up of 3.9 years, COPD was found to be an independent predictor of both predefined primary study end points, including all-cause mortality (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15-1.43, p < 0.0001) and all-cause mortality or hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.10-1.30, p < 0.0001). Both cardiovascular (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05-1.36, p = 0.007) and noncardiovascular mortality (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.26-1.94, p < 0.0001) were significantly increased in COPD-HF patients, as well as hospitalizations for any reason (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.14-1.34, p < 0.0001), for cardiovascular reasons (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06-1.27, p = 0.002) and for HF (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.14-1.43, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

COPD is an independent predictor of mortality and hospitalizations in ambulatory HF patients. Increased awareness and improved management of COPD may reduce the burden of this morbidity to patients with HF.

Management of Noncardiac Comorbidities in Chronic Heart Failure

Prevalence of heart failure is increasing, especially in the elderly population. Noncardiac comorbidities complicate heart failure care and are increasingly common in elderly patients with reduced or preserved ejection fraction heart failure, owing to prolongation of patient's lives by advances in chronic heart failure (CHF) management. Common comorbidities include respiratory disease, renal dysfunction, anemia, arthritis, obesity, diabetes mellitus, cognitive dysfunction, and depression. These conditions contribute to the progression of the disease and may alter the response to treatment, partly as polypharmacy is inevitable in these patients. Cardiologists and other physicians caring for patients with CHF need to be vigilant to comorbid conditions that complicate the care of these patients. There is now more guidance on management of noncardiac comorbidities in heart failure, and this article contains a comprehensive review of the most recent updates on management of noncardiac comorbidities in CHF.

Outcomes in patients hospitalized for heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: differences in clinical profile and treatment between 2002 and 2009

AIMS

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently co-exist, and each is a major public health issue. In a large cohort of hospitalized HF patients, we evaluated: (i) the impact of COPD on clinical outcomes; (ii) whether outcomes and treatments changed from 2002 to 2009; and (iii) the relationship between outcomes and treatments focusing on beta-blockers (BBs) and bronchodilators (BDs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

From linkable Lombardy administrative health databases, we selected individuals with a discharge diagnosis of HF with or without concomitant COPD (HF yesCOPD and HF noCOPD) in 2002 and 2009. Patients were followed up for 4 years. Outcomes were total mortality, first readmission for HF, and their combination. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional models and competing risk analyses were used. We identified 11 274 patients with HF noCOPD and 2837 with HF yesCOPD. HF yesCOPD patients in 2002 and 2009 had a 20% higher risk of the outcomes. From 2002 to 2009, BB and BD prescriptions increased significantly. In HF noCOPD patients, risks for mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-0.97], first HF readmission (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.74-0.85), and the combined endpoint (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.84-0.92) declined (all P < 0.003) while in HF yesCOPD only the risk for first HF readmission dropped (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.76-0.97; P = 0.018). BBs were associated with significantly lower mortality in both groups, but with a higher risk for first HF readmission in HF noCOPD. Outcomes did not significantly differ in HF yesCOPD treated or not with BDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of patients hospitalized for HF, either with or without COPD, seemed to improve between 2002 and 2009, with possibly better survival of those on BBs. Because of residual confounding in observational studies, a randomized controlled trial should be considered to confirm these results.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute myocardial infarction: effects on presentation, management, and outcomes

Cardiovascular disease is a common cause of death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is a key target for improving outcomes. However, there are concerns that patients with COPD may not have enjoyed the same mortality reductions from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in recent decades as the general population. This has raised questions about differences in presentation, management and outcomes in COPD patients compared to non-COPD patients. The evidence points to an increased risk of death after AMI in patients with COPD, but it is unclear to what extent this is attributable to COPD itself or to modifiable factors including under-treatment with guideline-recommended interventions and drugs. We review the evidence for differences between COPD and non-COPD patients in terms of the presentation of AMI, its treatment, and outcomes both in hospital and in the longer term.

Carvedilol, Bisoprolol, and Metoprolol Use in Patients With Coexistent Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Beta (β)-blockers are under-prescribed in patients with heart failure (HF) and concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to concerns about adverse pulmonary effects and a poor understanding of the effects of these drugs. We aimed to evaluate the survival effects of β-blockers in patients with coexistent HF and COPD. Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a nationwide population-based study. Patients with coexistent HF and COPD diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 were enrolled. Doses of the 3 β-blockers proven to be beneficial to HF (carvedilol, bisoprolol, and metoprolol) during the study period were extracted. The primary endpoint was cumulative survival. Patients were followed until December 31, 2009. The study included 11,558 subjects, with a mean follow-up period of 4.07 years. After adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities, and severity of HF and COPD, bisoprolol use showed a dose-response survival benefit [low dose: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.59-0.97, P = 0.030; high dose: adjusted HR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.26-0.63, P < 0.001] compared with nonusers, whereas no survival difference was observed for carvedilol or metoprolol. Compared with patients with HF alone, this special HF + COPD cohort received significantly fewer targeted β-blockers (108.8 vs 137.3 defined daily doses (DDDs)/person-year, P < 0.001) and bisoprolol (57.9 vs 70.8 DDDs/person-year, P < 0.001). In patients with coexisting HF and COPD, this study demonstrated a dose-response survival benefit of bisoprolol use, but not of carvedilol or metoprolol use.

Associations of lifelong cigarette consumption and hypertension with airflow limitation in primary care clinic outpatients in Japan

BACKGROUND

Underdiagnosis is a critical problem in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is important to screen patients at risk for COPD among those with lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, since these diseases promote the development of cardiovascular diseases closely associated with increased COPD mortality.

METHODS

Thirteen primary care clinics in a suburb of Tokyo participated in the current study. A total of 950 patients from these clinics were enrolled in the study between 2010 and 2012; the patients ranged in age from 40 to 79 years, and they had no diagnosed respiratory diseases at the time of enrollment. Patients fulfilling the selection criteria were recruited to undergo spirometry and then completed a self-report questionnaire about comorbid diseases and smoking habits. Spirometry was performed 15 min after inhalation of 200 μg of salbutamol sulfate.

RESULTS

The prevalence of airflow limitation was 12.7% in the 950 primary care clinic patients. Lifelong cigarette consumption was the most significant risk factor for airflow limitation, e.g., patients who smoked 60 pack-years or more had a 40% likelihood of airflow limitation. Among common lifestyle-related diseases, hypertension was associated with the severity of airflow limitation (p=0.03), whereas dyslipidemia appeared to be inversely correlated with the severity of airflow limitation (p=0.004) on multiple regression analysis including lifelong cigarette consumption as a factor.

CONCLUSIONS

Undiagnosed airflow limitation was detected in 12.7% of outpatients at the primary care clinics. Since most patients with lifestyle-related diseases are treated by primary care physicians, it is essential for the physicians to obtain an accurate history of smoking and comorbid diseases to screen patients for COPD.

Risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and death following MI in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Cardiovascular disease is an important comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to systematically review the evidence for: (1) risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in people with COPD; (2) risk of MI associated with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD); (3) risk of death after MI in people with COPD.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE and SCI were searched up to January 2015. Two reviewers screened abstracts and full text records, extracted data and assessed studies for risk of bias. We used the generic inverse variance method to pool effect estimates, where possible. Evidence was synthesised in a narrative review where meta-analysis was not possible.

RESULTS

Searches yielded 8362 records, and 24 observational studies were included. Meta-analysis showed increased risk of MI associated with COPD (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.42) for cohort analyses, but not in case-control studies: OR 1.18 (0.80 to 1.76). Both included studies that investigated the risk of MI associated with AECOPD found an increased risk of MI after AECOPD (incidence rate ratios, IRR 2.27, 1.10 to 4.70, and IRR 13.04, 1.71 to 99.7). Meta-analysis showed weak evidence for increased risk of death for patients with COPD in hospital after MI (OR 1.13, 0.97 to 1.31). However, meta-analysis showed an increased risk of death after MI for patients with COPD during follow-up (HR 1.26, 1.13 to 1.40).

CONCLUSIONS

There is good evidence that COPD is associated with increased risk of MI; however, it is unclear to what extent this association is due to smoking status. There is some evidence that the risk of MI is higher during AECOPD than stable periods. There is poor evidence that COPD is associated with increased in hospital mortality after an MI, and good evidence that longer term mortality is higher for patients with COPD after an MI.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine whether chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the community.

BACKGROUND

COPD is linked to cardiovascular mortality; an association with SCD has not been systematically investigated in the general population.

METHODS

In the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (approximately 1 million population), adult SCD case subjects were compared with geographic control subjects with coronary artery disease. Detailed clinical and electrocardiographic risk marker information was obtained from medical records. The association of COPD with SCD in the overall population and in a propensity score-matched dataset was assessed with logistic models.

RESULTS

SCD case subjects (n = 728; age 69.9 ± 13.7 years) were more likely than control subjects (n = 548; age 67.2 ± 11.3 years) to have left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% (27.5% vs. 12.0%; p < 0.0001), COPD (30.8% vs. 12.8%, p < 0.0001), diabetes mellitus (47.7% vs. 31.8%; p < 0.0001), use short-acting beta-2 agonist agents (SBAs) (22.3% vs. 12.6%; p < 0.0001), and less likely to use beta-blockers (60.6% vs. 66.4%; p = 0.03). In multivariable analysis, COPD was significantly associated with SCD (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4 to 3.5; p < 0.001). There was no significant interaction between COPD and medications, but an interaction was identified between SBAs and beta-blockers (p = 0.04); SBAs were strongly associated with SCD in subjects not taking beta-blockers (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.4 to 7.7; p = 0.005) but not in those taking beta-blockers (OR: 1.3; 95% CI: 0.7 to 2.3; p = 0.39). The COPD-SCD association was maintained in a propensity score-matched analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

COPD is associated with SCD risk in the community independent of medications, electrocardiographic risk markers, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Among other mechanisms, pro-arrhythmogenic right ventricular remodeling and systemic inflammation warrant further investigation.

Patients with heart failure and concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease participating in the Heart Failure Pilot Survey (ESC-HF Pilot) - Polish population

INTRODUCTION

There is an increasing interest in comorbidities in heart failure patients. Data about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Polish population of heart failure (HF) patients are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment differences and outcome according to COPD occurrence in the Polish population of patients participating in the ESC-HF Pilot Survey Registry.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed the data of 891 patients with HF recruited in 2009-2011 in Poland: 648 (72.7%) hospitalized patients and 243 (27.3%) patients included as outpatients.

RESULTS

The COPD was documented in 110 (12.3%) patients with HF in the analyzed population. Patients with - compared to those without COPD were older, more often smokers, had higher NYHA class, and higher prevalence of hypertension. Ejection fraction (EF) was higher in hospitalized patients with COPD compared to patients without COPD (40.5 ±14.6% vs. 37.2 ±13.7%, p < 0.04), without a significant difference in the outpatient group. There was a significant difference in β-blocker use between patients with and without COPD (81.8% vs. 94.7%, p < 0.0001). Most patients received them below target doses. At the end of the 12-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in mortality between COPD and no-COPD patients (10.9% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.66).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from the Polish part of the ESC-HF registry indicate that COPD in patients with HF is associated with older age, smoker status, hypertension and higher NYHA class. The use of β-blockers was significantly lower in patients with than without COPD. There were no significant differences in mortality between groups.

Underdiagnosis and prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after percutaneous coronary intervention: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Retrospective studies based on clinical data and without spirometric confirmation suggest a poorer prognosis of patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The impact of undiagnosed COPD in these patients is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of COPD - previously or newly diagnosed - in patients with IHD treated with PCI.

METHODS

Patients with IHD confirmed by PCI were consecutively included. After PCI they underwent forced spirometry and evaluation for cardiovascular risk factors. All-cause mortality, new cardiovascular events, and their combined endpoint were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 133 patients (78%) male, with a mean (SD) age of 63 (10.12) years were included. Of these, 33 (24.8%) met the spirometric criteria for COPD, of whom 81.8% were undiagnosed. IHD patients with COPD were older, had more coronary vessels affected, and a greater history of previous myocardial infarction. Median follow-up was 934 days (interquartile range [25%-75%]: 546-1,160). COPD patients had greater mortality (P=0.008; hazard ratio [HR]: 8.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.76-44.47) and number of cardiovascular events (P=0.024; HR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.04-3.33), even those without a previous diagnosis of COPD (P=0.01; HR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.12-2.83). These differences remained after adjustment for sex, age, number of coronary vessels affected, and previous myocardial infarction (P=0.025; HR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.08-3.1).

CONCLUSION

Prevalence and underdiagnosis of COPD in patients with IHD who undergo PCI are both high. These patients have an independent greater mortality and a higher number of cardiovascular events during follow-up.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sudden cardiac death: the Rotterdam study

AIMS

Both sudden cardiac death (SCD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common conditions in the elderly. Previous studies have identified an association between COPD and cardiovascular disease, and with SCD in specific patient groups. Our aim was to investigate whether there is an association between COPD and SCD in the general population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Rotterdam study is a population-based cohort study among 14 926 subjects aged 45 years and older with up to 24 years of follow-up. Analyses were performed with a (time dependent) Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age, sex, and smoking. Of the 13 471 persons included in the analysis; 1615 had a diagnosis of COPD and there were 551 cases of SCD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with an increased risk of SCD (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, HR, 1.34, 95% CI 1.06-1.70). The risk particularly increased in the period 2000 days (5.48 years) after the diagnosis of COPD (age- and sex-adjusted HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.60-2.82) and increased further to a more than three-fold higher risk in COPD subjects with frequent exacerbations during this period (age- and sex-adjusted HR 3.58, 95% CI 2.35-5.44). Analyses restricted to persons without prevalent myocardial infarction or heart failure yielded similar results.

CONCLUSION

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with an increased risk for SCD. The risk especially increases in persons with frequent exacerbations 5 years after the diagnosis of COPD. This risk indicator could provide new directions for better-targeted actions to prevent SCD.

[Medical therapy of heart and lung diseases. Effects on the respective other organ]

Many patients suffer from both heart and lung diseases. The choice of medical drugs should not only be driven by the clinical and prognostic effects on the target organ but should also be selected based on the effects on the respective other organ. Beta blockers and statins have both beneficial and harmful effects on the respiratory system. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and amiodarone can cause severe lung damage. Low-dose thiazides and calcium antagonists are first-line medications in hypertensive asthma patients but beta blockers should be avoided. Theophyline should be used with caution in patients with known cardiac disease. Glucocorticosteroids can cause cardiovascular symptoms while the phosphodiesterase inhibitor roflumilast appears to have no relevant cardiovascular side effects. Anticholinergic drugs have both favorable and unfavorable cardiovascular (side) effects. Short-acting beta-2 sympathomimetic drugs (SABA) and macrolides in particular can trigger arrhythmia and some SABAs are associated with a higher incidence of myocardial infarction. Detailed knowledge of the effects of drugs used for the treatment of lung and heart diseases on the respective other organ and the associated complications and long-term effects are essential in providing optimal medical care to the many patients who present with both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.