Key Points
- To evaluate left ventricular diastolic function and left atrial filling patterns in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have no clinical history of heart disease.
- Assessed 34 clinically stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 20 control subjects without history of cardiac disease.
- Measured pulmonary venous and mitral blood flow velocities using Doppler echocardiography to analyze diastolic filling dynamics and estimate left atrial pressure.
- Patients with COPD showed an increased contribution of atrial contraction to left ventricular filling alongside decreased left atrial filling during ventricular systole, despite normal left ventricular systolic function.
- Estimated left atrial pressure remained below 15 cm H2O in all COPD patients and control subjects.
- Left atrial and ventricular filling dynamics correlated significantly with right ventricular pressure and diameter, demonstrating that ventricular interdependence and reduced preload contribute to filling abnormalities.
Structured PICO
PPopulation34 clinically stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and no history of heart disease, and 20 control subjects (total n=54).
CComparator20 control subjects
OOutcomeLeft ventricular diastolic function assessed by combined analysis of pulmonary venous and mitral blood flow velocitiessurrogate
In patients with COPD, left atrial and ventricular filling patterns are altered due to ventricular interdependence and tachycardia, independent of intrinsic left ventricular systolic dysfunction.