Association between left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease defined by chronic respiratory symptoms, and airway limitation in the form of obstruction. Cardiovascular abnormalities are highly linked to COPD and they often complicate the disease, many correlations between the two are yet to be explored. In COPD patients left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a recurrent finding, few studies suggest that it is associated with disease severity. Objectives This study evaluates the association between LVDD and severity of COPD. Patients and methods 62 patients were included in this cross–sectional study. They were included from pulmonology departments at university hospitals. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, spirometry, and echocardiography. The patients were also categorized into COPD group B and E, there was no group A patients. Results The findings revealed high incidence of LVDD (62%), independent of disease severity. There was a highly significant relation between age and LVDD. 11% of the patients had segmental contractility abnormality, which was associated with low forced vital capacity% values. There was a statistically significant difference in forced expiratory volume in the 1st second %, and forced vital capacity% values between the two groups, they were lower in group E. Conclusion COPD patients has a high prevalence of LVDD, independent of disease severity.