Beyond the Lungs: Addressing Cardiopulmonary Risk in COPD

COPD is a growing problem worldwide. Symptoms of COPD may lead to exacerbations, which are associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular (CV) events. This association is important to recognize as both COPD exacerbations and the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are associated with an early death. At the 2025 American Thoracic Society (ATS) Conference, Nicola Hanania, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA, and Patrick Cambier, HCA Florida Trinity Hospital, Trinity, Florida, USA; Interventional Cardiology Consultants, Clearwater, Florida, USA, presented the case for examining CV-related issues in all patients with COPD. Studies show that a COPD exacerbation is one of the key symptoms associated with further exacerbations. As such, intervention either prior to any exacerbation, or following the first such incidence, is key to trying to limit both further exacerbations and associated CVD. However, even at-risk patients with COPD are being undertreated, especially with regard to maintenance therapy. This, the experts posited, may pose a significant health burden. Hanania and Cambier also discussed that the assessment of CVD symptoms in patients with COPD is not routine. They called for cardiologists and pulmonologists to work together and cross-refer patients whenever they present with COPD. This approach can not only reveal CV-related issues in patients with COPD, but can also lead to more proactive, early treatment of such symptoms to slow disease progression and help prevent death.