Impaired left ventricular filling in COPD and emphysema: is it the heart or the lungs? The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis COPD Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

COPD and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction overlap clinically, and impaired left ventricular (LV) filling is commonly reported in COPD. The mechanism underlying these observations is uncertain, but may include upstream pulmonary dysfunction causing low LV preload or intrinsic LV dysfunction causing high LV preload. The objective of this study is to determine if COPD and emphysema are associated with reduced pulmonary vein dimensions suggestive of low LV preload.

Methods

The population-based Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) COPD Study recruited smokers aged 50 to 79 years who were free of clinical cardiovascular disease. COPD was defined by spirometry. Percent emphysema was defined as regions < -910 Hounsfield units on full-lung CT scan.

SUBMITTER: Smith BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3787914 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature