Is COPD a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease?

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Coronary artery disease has often been linked causally to COPD, but the exact pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning this association remain speculative. A retrospective case-control study matching COPD patients and controls one to one for smoking history and conventional cardiovascular risk factors will be performed to study the association between COPD and cardiovascular outcomes. Filling in this knowledge gap may contribute to the understanding of the interplay between COPD and cardiovascular disease.

The objective of this retrospective case-control study is to determine whether COPD might be a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis, impaired left ventricular ejection fraction, and major adverse cardiovascular events independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors.

Inclusion criteria

• SPECT-CT imaging due to preoperative assessment between 01.01.2007 and 31.07.2013.
• Coronary artery calcium score and left ventricular ejection fraction data available.
• History of smoking (smoker or ex-smoker).
• COPD group: Documented chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.7).
• Control group: Exclusion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC > 0.7).

Exclusion criteria

• Known coronary artery disease or coronary symptoms (angina pectoris) at the time of the SPECT-CT investigation.
• Known congenital or structural heart disease.
• Previous heart transplantation.