Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant cause of death. Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in COPD. Aim We used echocardiography to evaluate cardiac function in patients with COPD and correlated echocardiographic findings with COPD severity. Patients and methods We performed a prospective cross-sectional study on 60 patients with stable COPD who presented to the Abbasia Chest Hospital during the period from November 2016 till August 2017. Spirometry was performed for all participants using American and European Thoracic Society (2005) recommendations. They were classified according to GOLD guidelines (2017) and evaluated by two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography according to American and European Association of Echocardiography ASE recommendations. Results Echocardiographic examination of left ventricular functions revealed no cases of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, but left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was found in ~25%. Right ventricle dilatation was found in ~18% of the patients. Tricuspid regurge was seen in ~75%, with variable grades from mild to severe. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was found in ~40% of the patients. It was more prevalent in patients with severe and very severe disease. Correlation between echocardiographic findings and severity of COPD revealed significant positive correlation only with right ventricle size, tricuspid regurgitation, and PH. Conclusion Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction appears to be frequent in patients with COPD, but it is not related to the disease severity. Abnormal right heart changes could be expected. Presence of PH has a linear relationship with COPD severity.

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