TY - JOUR T1 - Associations between severity of airflow obstruction and atherosclerosis: A cross-sectional study in Japan JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P1083 AU - Hisamitsu Omori AU - Masako Oda AU - Ayumi Onoue AU - Noritaka Higashi AU - Yasuhiro Ogata AU - Takahiko Katoh Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1083.abstract N2 - Objectives: Limited data exist on an association between COPD and atherosclerosis in Japan. Therefore, we examined associations between severity of airflow obstruction and markers of cardiovascular disease (arterial stiffness, coronary artery calcification (CAC), thoracic aortic calcification (TAC)).Methods: This study included 775 subjects (mean age 61.4, SD 12.0 years) , who underwent a comprehensive health screening containing spirometry, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), thoracic low-dose computed tomography (CT) and blood sampling at a medical check-up in 2009 at Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Health Care Center. Severity of airflow obstruction (AO) was defined according to GOLD criteria. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measurement of baPWV. Presence of CAC and TAC were assessed by CT.Results: Mean (SD) baPWV was significantly greater in subjects with moderate and severe AO (n=66), 1778.4 (465.9) cm/sec, than in subjects with a normal lung function (n=661), 1562.0 (321.6) cm/sec, p<0.001. Leukocytes were significantly higher in subjects with moderate and severe AO than in subjects with a normal lung function.In logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age, smoking habits, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, the prevalence of higher baPWV (>1400cm/sec) (OR, 3.37; 95%CI, 1.59-7.17, p=0.002) and the presence of CAC (OR, 1.94; 95%CI, 1.14-3.31, p=0.015) were significantly associated with subjects with moderate and severe AO compared with subjects with a normal lung function. The presence of TAC was not significantly associated with AO.Conclusions: Our study suggested associations between severity of airflow obstruction and atherosclerosis. ER -