High risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in COPD exacerbator phenotype

It is not known whether COPD exacerbations contribute to an increased vascular risk already associated with the disease. For this reason, we prospectively evaluated 127 patients referred for a monographic COPD consultation. We classify as exacerbators those who had experienced two or more moderate exacerbations in the previous year, or who had had a hospital admission. All underwent a blood analysis, respiratory function tests, global cardiovascular and coronary risk estimates (with four of the most frequently used scores, and the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Coronaropathy Risk (COPDCoRi) score, respectively); and an EcoDoppler to measure carotid intima-media thickness and the ankle-brachial index.

Source: Respiratory Medicine - July 15, 2018 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Adolfo Domenech, Ana Mu ñoz-Montiel, Natalia García-Casares, José Rioja, Pedro Ruiz-Esteban, Patricia Gutierrez- Castaño, María Jesús Prunera Pardell, Casilda Olveira, Pedro Valdivielso, Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Chaparro Source Type: research