The cardio-pulmonary continuum – interaction of heart and lung at the population level

Heart and lung diseases are common comorbidities. They share the same risk factors and in both, dyspnea is the main clinical symptom. Coronary artery disease is the main cause of death in patients with COPD. Cardiac biomarkers predict rehospitalization and mortality in patients with acute exacerbated COPD. Even at the population level, subclinical lung function alteration is associated with measurable changes in biomarkers of cardiac stress and necrosis. Impairment of lung function may cause symptoms of heart failure (HF), although no cardiovascular or structural heart disease is present. Patients with COPD suff…