Extract COPD remains one of the major global public health challenges. Its high prevalence, its impact on respiratory function, and the frequency of exacerbations make it a condition with substantial socioeconomic burden. More than 400 million people currently live with COPD, and millions die each year from complications related to both acute episodes and the progressive deterioration they entail 1. Each exacerbation marks a genuine turning point in the patient's disease trajectory, as it accelerates functional decline and increases morbidity, mortality, and the overall healthcare and societal burden. Moreover, the risk of subsequent events rises sharply in the following weeks 2, 3. Cardiovascular complications play a particularly prominent role during this period of heightened vulnerability and increased risk of hospital readmission and mortality, occurring far more frequently in these patients 2, 4.
Casal-Guisande et al. (Fri,) studied this question.