Do COPD Exacerbations Increase the Risk for CV Events?

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) increased the risk for cardiovascular disease events (CVD), particularly within the first 30 days after AECOPD, according to the findings of a recent study presented at the American Thoracic Society Conference.

In the study, researchers analyzed data post hoc from 16,485 participants who were current or former smokers from 40 to 80 years of age involved in the Study to Understand Mortality and Morbidity trial. The primary outcome was CVD event, including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, and transient ischemic attack. The hazard ratios (HR) for CVD events were determine for 1 to 30 days, 31 days to 1 year, and beyond 1 year after AECOPD.  
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The risk for CVD event was the highest within the first 30 days following AECOPD, with a HR of 3.8, and decreased slightly between 30 days and 1 year to a HR of 1.1.

 However, the risk was no longer significant beyond 1 year after AECOPD, with a HR of 1.1.

“Clinicians should have heightened vigilance for CVD events following AECOPD,” the researchers concluded. “Our data also suggest the need for intervention studies to reduce the risk of post-AECOPD CVD events.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Kunisaki KM, Dransfield M, Anderson JA, et al. Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increase subsequent cardiovascular event risk: a secondary analysis of adjudicated SUMMIT Study data. Presented at: American Thoracic Society 2017 Conference. May 19-24, 2017; Washington, DC. Abstract A1014.