Abstract
Background: Systemic inflammation has been suggested as a possible link between cardiovascular (CV) disease and COPD. Also nasal symptoms have been discussed in relation to COPD and systemic inflammation. Coincident data on these conditions are scarce.
Aim: To give descriptive population based data on CV disease and nasal symptoms in COPD and non-COPD.
Methods: All subjects with COPD according to GOLD, FEV1/FVC<0.70, were identified (n=993) from clinical follow-ups in 2002-04 of the OLIN (Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden) studies' cohorts together with 993 gender- and age-matched reference subjects without COPD (non-COPD, further divided into normal and restrictive lung function, Nlf and Rlf). Interview-data on nasal blocking/rhinitis and CV disease were used.
Results: CV disease (heart disease (HD), hypertension, stroke, claudicatio) was more prevalent in COPD compared to in Nlf; 50.1% vs 41.0% (p<0.001) and also the prevalence of HD (angina pectoris, heart failure, myocardial infarction), 18.5% and 13.7%, respectively (p=0.006). Nasal symptoms were more common in COPD compared to in Nlf, 43.1% vs 32.3%, p<0.001. In Rlf the prevalence of nasal symptoms, CV disease and HD was 41.0%, 59.0% and 24.4%, significantly higher compared to in Nlf (p=0.017, p<0.001 and p<0.001) and all but nasal symptoms also compared to in COPD (p=0.573, p=0.047 and p=0.017). In subjects with COPD and HD, 53.0% had nasal symptoms, while 35.8% in Nlf and 62.2% in Rlf.
Conclusion: Cardiovascular disease and nasal symptoms were common in COPD, and Rlf did also identify a population with increased CV disease burden. The overlap between heart disease and nasal symptoms was large in subjects with COPD but also in Rlf.
- © 2011 ERS