8 Jan 2024 • People living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience higher risks of severe cardiovascular (CV) events in periods of time following an exacerbation of the disease compared with periods outside exacerbations.

• A study involving 142,787 COPD patients revealed a significant increase in CV event risks following disease exacerbations.
• Compared to non-exacerbation periods, the week post-exacerbation saw a 16-fold rise in the risk for major CV events (adjusted HR 15.86).
• The risk of hospitalisation was increased for all CV events of interest (acute coronary syndrome, heart failure decompensation, arrhythmias & ischaemic stroke).
• The highest increase in risk was observed for heart failure decompensation.

Exacerbations of COPD are independent and modifiable risk factors for severe CV events. The impact of optimising COPD management on CV outcomes needs to be evaluated.

Source: BMJ | Read full story