Screening of cardiovascular disorders among stable COPD patients

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD ) not only involves the airways and lung parenchyma, but is also associated with comorbidities which have influence on the course of the disease and subsequently require initial assessment as a part of COPD management. Cardiovascular disorder is one of the most important and devastating comorbidity associated with COPD. Aim The primary aim was to evaluate incidence of cardiovascular diseases among stable COPD patients and secondary aim was to study risk factors for this comorbidity among selected patients . Methods This observational cross-sectional study was performed on 100 stable COPD patients attending outpatients clinic of Chest Department, Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt within the period from 1st October 2024 to the end of May 2025. All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, spirometric assessment of airflow obstruction severity, assessment of COPD status using Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) ABE assessment tool (GOLD criteria 2024 ), Arterial oxygen saturation measurement using pulse oximetry, laboratory investigations, Chest imaging, pelviabdominal ultrasonography, Electrocardiogram and Echocardiography. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk predictor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) . Results The newly diagnosed cardiovascular profile of the studied patients revealed that 74% had cardiovascular risk factors, 30% had cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) comprising ischemic heart disease ( 22%), heart failure (5%), atrial fibrillation ( 8%), and peripheral artery disease ( 2%). Additionally, COPD-related cardiovascular complications included pulmonary hypertension ( 44%) and cor pulmonale (8%). Forced vital capacity (FVC) actual value (OR: 4.607, 95% CI: 1.459–14.548), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO₂) ; OR: 0.835, 95% CI: 0.744–0.937), and dyslipidemia (OR: 5.660, 95% CI: 1.277–25.081) were identified as independent risk predictors for CVDs in this study. Conclusion The wide variability in the incidence of cardiovascular disorders among stable COPD patients across different grades raises attention for their screening at the initial evaluation of COPD, regardless of its severity including assessment of arterial blood gases and lipid profile alongside spirometry as they were recognized as independent risk predictors for CVDs .