ADULTS with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVD), according to recent research. Hong Chen, Chengdu Second People’s Hospital, China, and colleagues reported: “Patients with COPD have a higher prevalence of one or more [cardiovascular diseases], including coronary heart disease, heart failure, heart attack, and diabetes, compared with those without COPD.”
The research team conducted a population-based cross-sectional study, using results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2013–2018. In total, they analysed 11,425 American adults, aged ≥40 years old. In this group, 661 individuals (mean age: 64.3 years; 47.6% male; 80.5% non-Hispanic White) had COPD, and the other 10,764 (mean age: 58.1 years; 47.2% male; 68% non-Hispanic White) did not.
Overall, a smaller percentage of adults with COPD than without reported current smoking (46.4% versus 66.2%). Other factors measured included blood eosinophil counts, annual family income, and whether patients had received a high school education.
Results showed that 59.6% of patients with COPD had one CVD, compared to only 28.4% in the non-COPD group. Chen and colleagues further reported that more adults with COPD had at least two CVDs than adults without (32.8% versus 8.3%), and three or more CVDs (19.4% versus 3.5%), respectively. When analysing results for specific CVDs, results demonstrated that there was a much higher prevalence of coronary heart disease in those with COPD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.7–5.9), heart failure (aOR: 5.6; 95% CI: 3.2–9.7), heart attack (aOR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.0–5.0), and diabetes (aOR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.5), compared to adults without COPD.
Though further research into the association between COPD and CVD is needed in order to confirm causality, this research highlights the need for CVD prevention and management in patients with COPD. Additionally, future research projects should be conducted with more diverse populations, as this study analysed data from largely non-Hispanic White individuals.
