The importance of breathing not properly: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a risk factor for rehospitalization in heart failure

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are leading causes of death worldwide. Their prevalence is estimated as 1 –3% of the general population and 5–10% of adults, respectively [1]; these conditions often coexist, because smoking is a common risk factor, and low-grade systemic inflammation is a shared pathogenic mechanism. Prevalence estimates of comorbid HF and COPD vary widely according to cohort selecti on, age, risk factor exposure, and diagnostic criteria. When systematically employing spirometry, COPD was diagnosed in 36% of patients hospitalized for HF [2] and in 30% of stable HF patients [3].
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research