on behalf of the PAC-COPD Study Investigators # ABSTRACT: Cardiovascular disease accounts for significant morbidity and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its prevalence and mechanisms of association have not been elucidated. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of echocardiographic abnormalities and potential risk factors in patients with COPD at their first exacerbation requiring hospital admission.Transthoracic echocardiography was prospectively performed in 342 patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 s 52¡16% predicted) 3 months after discharge.Significant cardiac alterations were present in 64% of patients; 27% left-and 48% right-heart disorders. The most common were right ventricle enlargement (30%) and pulmonary hypertension (19%). Left ventricle enlargement was present in 6%, left ventricle systolic dysfunction in 13%, left ventricle diastolic impairment in 12% and left atrial dilatation in 29%. Echocardiographic abnormalities were unrelated to COPD severity and were more frequent in patients with selfreported cardiac disease. They were also observed in 63% of patients with no known cardiac disease or cardiovascular risk factors other than smoking.We conclude that cardiac abnormalities are highly prevalent in COPD patients at the time of their first severe exacerbation, even in the absence of established cardiac disease or cardiovascular risk factors. Considering the prognostic and therapeutic implications of cardiac comorbidity, echocardiography should be considered in the assessment of patients with clinically significant COPD.

Anemia and previous exacerbations were independent predictors of mortality after one year in patients hospitalized for AECOPD.

IntroductionFew data are available in regards to the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the broad spectrum of COPD. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of PH in a cohort of COPD patients across the severity of airflow limitation, and reporting the hemodynamic characteristics at rest and during exercise.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis on COPD patients who underwent right-heart catheterization in our center with measurements obtained at rest (n=139) and during exercise (n=85). PH was defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mmHg and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure <15 mmHg. Exercise-induced PH (EIPH) was defined by a ratio of ΔmPAP/Δcardiac output >3.ResultsPH was present in 25 patients (18%). According to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification, PH prevalence in GOLD 2 was 7% (3 patients); 25% (14 patients) in GOLD 3; and 22% (8 patients) in GOLD 4. Severe PH (mPAP ≥35 mmHg) was identified in four patients (2.8%). Arterial partial oxygen pressure was the outcome most strongly associated with PH (r=−0.29, P<0.001). EIPH was observed in 60 patients (71%) and had a similar prevalence in both GOLD 2 and 3, and was present in all GOLD 4 patients. Patients with PH had lower cardiac index during exercise than patients without PH (5.0±1.2 versus 6.7±1.4 L/min/m2, respectively; P=0.001).ConclusionPH has a similar prevalence in COPD patients with severe and very-severe airflow limitation, being associated with the presence of arterial hypoxemia. In contrast, EIPH is highly prevalent, even in moderate COPD, and might contribute to limiting exercise tolerance.

Background and objective The relationship between IPF development and environmental factors has not been completely elucidated. Analysing geographic regions of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cases could help identify those areas with higher aggregation and investigate potential triggers. We hypothesize that cross‐analysing location of IPF cases and areas of consistently high air pollution concentration could lead to recognition of environmental risk factors for IPF development. Methods This retrospective study analysed epidemiological and clinical data from 503 patients registered in the Observatory IPF.cat from January 2017 to June 2019. Incident and prevalent IPF cases from the Catalan region of Spain were graphed based on their postal address. We generated maps of the most relevant air pollutant PM2.5 from the last 10 years using data from the CALIOPE air quality forecast system and observational data. Results In 2018, the prevalence of IPF differed across provinces; from 8.1 cases per 100 000 habitants in Barcelona to 2.0 cases per 100 000 in Girona. The ratio of IPF was higher in some areas. Mapping PM2.5 levels illustrated that certain areas with more industry, traffic and shipping maintained markedly higher PM2.5 concentrations. Most of these locations correlated with higher aggregation of IPF cases. Compared with other risk factors, PM2.5 exposure was the most frequent. Conclusion In this retrospective study, prevalence of IPF is higher in areas of elevated PM2.5 concentration. Prospective studies with targeted pollution mapping need to be done in specific geographies to compile a broader profile of environmental factors involved in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.