Background Very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes cor pulmonale with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and secondary reductions in left ventricular filling, stroke volume, and cardiac output. We hypothesized that emphysema, as detected on computed tomography (CT), and airflow obstruction are inversely related to left ventricular end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output among persons without very severe lung disease. Methods We measured left ventricular structure and function with the use of magnetic resonance imaging in 2816 persons who were 45 to 84 years of age. The extent of emphysema (expressed as percent emphysema) was defined as the percentage of voxels below −910 Hounsfield units in the lung windows on cardiac computed tomographic scans. Spirometry was performed according to American Thoracic Society guidelines. Generalized additive models were used to test for threshold effects. Results Of the study participants, 13% were current smokers, 38% were former smokers, and 49% had never smoked. A 10-point increase in percent emphysema was linearly related to reductions in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (−4.1 ml; 95% confidence interval [CI], −3.3 to −4.9; P<0.001), stroke volume (−2.7 ml; 95% CI, −2.2 to −3.3; P<0.001), and cardiac output (−0.19 liters per minute; 95% CI, −0.14 to −0.23; P<0.001). These associations were of greater magnitude among current smokers than among former smokers and those who had never smoked. The extent of airflow obstruction was similarly associated with left ventricular structure and function, and smoking status had similar modifying effects on these associations. Percent emphysema and airflow obstruction were not associated with the left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions In a population-based study, a greater extent of emphysema on CT scanning and more severe airflow obstruction were linearly related to impaired left ventricular filling, reduced stroke volume, and lower cardiac output without changes in the ejection fraction.

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Percent emphysema, airflow obstruction, and impaired left ventricular filling.

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are global epidemics incurring significant morbidity and mortality. The combination presents many diagnostic challenges. Clinical symptoms and signs frequently overlap. Evaluation of cardiac and pulmonary function is often problematic and occasionally misleading. Echocardiography and pulmonary function tests should be performed in every patient. Careful interpretation is required to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Airflow obstruction, in particular, must be demonstrated when clinically euvolaemic. Very high and very low concentrations of natriuretic peptides have high positive and negative predictive values for diagnosing HF in those with both conditions. Intermediate values are less informative. Both conditions are systemic disorders with overlapping pathophysiological processes. In patients with HF, COPD is consistently an independent predictor of death and hospitalization. However, the impact on ischaemic and arrhythmic events is unknown. Greater collaboration is required between cardiologists and pulmonologists to better identify and manage concurrent HF and COPD. The resulting symptomatic and prognostic benefits outweigh those attainable by treating either condition alone.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1093/eurjhf/hfn013

Heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnostic pitfalls and epidemiology

Rationale: Physical activity is reduced in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD has a systemic component that includes significant extrapulmonary effects that may contribute to its severity in individual patients.Objectives: To investigate the association of extrapulmonary effects of the disease and its comorbidities with reduced physical activity in patients with COPD.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 170 outpatients with COPD (GOLD [Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease] stages I–IV; BODE [body mass index, airway obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity] score 0–10) underwent a series of tests. Physical activity was assessed over 5 to 6 consecutive days by using a multisensor accelerometer armband that records steps per day and the physical activity level (total daily energy expenditure divided by whole-night sleeping energy expenditure). Cardiovascular status was assessed by echocardiography, vascular Doppler sonography, and levels of N-terminal pro–B-...

https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/rccm.200707-1011OC

Extrapulmonary effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on physical activity: a cross-sectional study.

Aims:

To quantify the prevalence of heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and vice versa. Further, to discuss diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the co-existence of both syndromes.



Methods and results:

We performed a Medline search from 1966 to March 2005. The reported prevalence of LVSD among COPD patients varied considerably, with the highest prevalence (10–46%) among those with an exacerbation. One single study assessed the prevalence of heart failure in COPD patients. A prevalence of 21% of previously unknown heart failure was reported in patients with a history of COPD or asthma. We did not find any report on COPD in heart failure or LVSD patients.



Diagnosing heart failure in COPD patients or vice versa is complicated by overlap in signs and symptoms, and diminished diagnostic value of additional investigations.



In general, pulmonary and heart failure ‘drug cocktails’ can be administered safely to patients with concomitant COPD and heart failure, although (short acting) β2-adrenoreceptor agonists and digitalis have potentially deleterious effects on cardiac and pulmonary function, respectively.



Conclusion:

Although knowledge about the prevalence of concomitant heart failure in COPD patients and vice versa is scarce, it seems that the combined presence is rather common. In view of diagnostic and therapeutic implications, more attention should be paid to the concomitant presence of both syndromes in clinical practice and research.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/j.ejheart.2006.01.010

Heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: An ignored combination?

The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of direct right-to-left ventricular interaction to left ventricular filling and stroke volume in 46 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and 18 control subjects. Stroke volume, right and left ventricular volumes, left ventricular filling rate, and interventricular septum curvature were measured by magnetic resonance imaging and left atrial filling by transesophageal echocardiography. Stroke volume, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, and left ventricular peak filling rate were decreased in PAH patients compared with control subjects: 28 +/- 13 vs. 41 +/- 10 ml/m(2) (P < 0.001), 46 +/- 14 vs. 61 +/- 14 ml/m(2) (P < 0.001), and 216 +/- 90 vs. 541 +/- 248 ml/s (P < 0.001), respectively. Among PAH patients, stroke volume did not correlate to right ventricular end-diastolic volume or mean pulmonary arterial pressure but did correlate to left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = 0.62, P < 0.001). Leftward interventricular septum curvature was correlated to left ventricular filling rate (r = 0.64, P < 0.001) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = 0.65, P < 0.001). In contrast, left atrial filling was normal and not correlated to left ventricular end-diastolic volume. In PAH patients, ventricular interaction mediated by the interventricular septum impairs left ventricular filling, contributing to decreased stroke volume.

Impaired left ventricular filling due to right-to-left ventricular interaction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Abnormal left ventricular (LV) diastolic function has frequently been reported in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the present work, diastolic function was studied by a combined analysis of pulmonary venous and mitral blood flow velocities in 34 patients with COPD clinically stable and without history of heart disease, and 20 control subjects. We confirmed the increased contribution of the atrial contraction to the LV filling in COPD patients in comparison with control subjects; furthermore, a decreased left atrial (LA) filling during the ventricular systole was observed. Changes in LV filling were not the consequence of a systolic dysfunction, because LV systolic function was normal. Doppler indices indicated that LA pressure was below 15 cm H(2)O in all the patients with COPD and control subjects. Several factors can be put forward to explain these changes; the first one is tachycardia. In addition to hypoxemia and medications, echocardiography suggested that a decreased LV preload participated in increased heart rate. Analysis of Doppler transmitral and pulmonary venous flows demonstrated the role of the ventricular interdependence because a correlation existed between LA and LV filling pattern and right ventricle pressure and diameter.

https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/ajrccm.162.2.9908056

Left atrial and ventricular filling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. An echocardiographic and Doppler study.

Background: Despite its high prevalence, epidemiological surveys on the diagnosis and severity of asthma in the elderly are seldom. Objective: The objectives of o

Diagnosis and severity of asthma in the elderly: results of a large survey in 1,485 asthmatics recruited by lung specialists.

Alveolar microlithiasis and immunological disorders.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the lung volume at which aerosol inhalation begins (LVi) influences airway responses to bronchoconstrictor agents. We compared the effects of carbachol bo

Jean Orehek

Papers

Left atrial and ventricular filling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. An echocardiographic and Doppler study.

Diagnosis and severity of asthma in the elderly: results of a large survey in 1,485 asthmatics recruited by lung specialists.

Alveolar microlithiasis and immunological disorders.

Different bronchoconstrictor effects of carbachol boluses inhaled near residual volume or total lung capacity.