24 Nov 2023 • People living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased risk of experiencing cardiovascular (CV) events, particularly after an exacerbation. Such CV burden is not yet known for incident COPD patients.

In recent research among newly diagnosed COPD patients, a significant increase in the risk of severe cardiovascular events or all-cause death was observed following either a moderate or severe exacerbation of COPD. The heightened risk was most pronounced in the initial period following an exacerbation.

After a severe exacerbation, the risk increased substantially and remained higher over the year following the exacerbation. Increase in risk concerned all categories of severe CV events.

These results underscored the significant cardiopulmonary burden in patients with COPD, even at the early stages of diagnosis.

Source: Respiratory Research | Read full story