The association of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and the prediction of COPD can be explained by neurohumoral activation

I read with great interest the recent work by Ricci et al. [1] published in the European Respiratory Journal. This insightful population-based study followed a very large cohort without baseline airflow obstruction for 32 years. Interestingly, baseline orthostatic blood pressure decrease, as well as increased resting heart rate, was associated with reduced lung function during follow-up. The authors consequently suggested that subtle signs of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction may precede the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Original Articles: Correspondence Source Type: research