In COPD and CAD patients, lower brain tissue volume was associated with lower cerebral blood flow (p<0.001) and higher blood pressure (p=0.001), and WMH volume with higher hs-CRP (p=0.011).
Cross-Sectional (n=100)
No
Brain structural changes in smoking-related diseases like COPD and CAD are associated with vascular, respiratory, and inflammatory markers rather than smoking history alone.
BACKGROUND: Changes in brain structure and cognitive decline occur in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). They also occur with smoking and coronary artery disease (CAD), but it is unclear whether a common mechanism is responsible. METHODS: Brain MRI markers of brain structure were tested for association with disease markers in other organs. Where possible, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to group markers within organ systems into composite markers. Univariate relationships between brain structure and the disease markers were explored using hierarchical regression and then entered into multivariable regression models. RESULTS: 100 participants were studied (53 COPD, 47 CAD). PCA identified two brain components: brain tissue volumes and white matter microstructure, and six components from other organ systems: respiratory function, plasma lipids, blood pressure, glucose dysregulation, retinal vessel calibre and retinal vessel tortuosity. Several markers could not be grouped into components and were analysed as single variables, these included brain white matter hyperintense lesion (WMH) volume. Multivariable regression models showed that less well organised white matter microstructure was associated with lower respiratory function (p = 0.028); WMH volume was associated with higher blood pressure (p = 0.036) and higher C-Reactive Protein (p = 0.011) and lower brain tissue volume was associated with lower cerebral blood flow (p<0.001) and higher blood pressure (p = 0.001). Smoking history was not an independent correlate of any brain marker. CONCLUSIONS: Measures of brain structure were associated with a range of markers of disease, some of which appeared to be common to both COPD and CAD. No single common pathway was identified, but the findings suggest that brain changes associated with smoking-related diseases may be due to vascular, respiratory, and inflammatory changes.
Spilling et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (n=100). Physiological markers of respiratory, vascular, and inflammatory disease was evaluated on Brain structure changes (brain tissue volume, white matter microstructure, and white matter hyperintense lesion volume). In COPD and CAD patients, lower brain tissue volume was associated with lower cerebral blood flow (p<0.001) and higher blood pressure (p=0.001), and WMH volume with higher hs-CRP (p=0.011).